The High Court is preparing to welcome its first female president.

Ms Justice Mary Irvine was nominated to the post by the Government this afternoon.

Judge Irvine was appointed to the Supreme court last year and has also served as a Judge of the High Court and Court of Appeal.

The current High Court President, Mr Justice Peter Kelly retires from the job next week and the President Michael D Higgins will now be asked to sign off on Judge Irvine's appointment.

In a statement, Law Society President Michele O’ Boyle welcomed the appointment.

“I welcome in the warmest of terms this nomination of Ms Justice Mary Irvine both as an outstandingly able judge and as the first woman in history to hold this absolutely key role in the Irish judiciary,” she said.

“She will bring the qualities of independence, deep legal knowledge and insight that have characterised her distinguished career as a judge.”

Judge Irvine was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1978 and was made Senior Counsel in 1996.

She specialised in medical law and chaired the Working Group on Medical Negligence and Periodic Payments established in 2010.

In 2018, she was appointed Chairperson of the Cervical Check Tribunal.