as with appointing the Taoiseach, the president is required to make the appointment without the right to appoint someone else. Ministers are dismissed by the advice of the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach must, unless there is a dissolution of the Dáil, resign upon losing the confidence of the house. Appoints the judiciary The president appoints the judges to all courts in Ireland, by the advice of the government. Convenes and dissolves the DáilThis power is exercised on the advice of the Taoiseach; government or Dáil approval is not needed. The president may only refuse a dissolution when a Taoiseach has lost the confidence of the Dáil. Signs bills into lawThe president cannot veto a bill that the Dáil and the Seanad have adopted. However, the president may refer it to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality. If the Supreme Court upholds the bill, the president must sign it. If, however, it is found to be unconstitutional, the president will refuse to give assent. Represents the state in foreign affairs This power is exercised only by the advice of the government. The president accredits ambassadors and receives the letters of credence of foreign diplomats. Ministers sign international treaties in the president's name. This role was not exercised by the president prior to the Republic of Ireland Act 1948. Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces This role is similar in status to that of a commander-in-chief. An officer's commission is signed and sealed by the president. This is a nominal function, the powers of which are exercised by the advice of the government. (See Minister for Defence.) Power of pardonThe president has "the right of pardon and the power to commute or remit punishment". Pardon, for miscarriages of justice, has applied rarely: Thomas Quinn in 1940, Brady in 1943, and Nicky Kelly in 1992. The current procedure is specified by Section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1993. There were plans in 2005 for paramilitary fugitives to receive pardons as part of the Northern Ireland peace process, to supplement the 1998 early release of serving prisoners after the Good Friday Agreement. This was controversial and was soon abandoned along with similar British proposals. Power of commutation and remittance are not restricted to the president, though this was the case for death sentences handed down prior to the abolition of capital punishment. Other functions specified by statute or otherwise include: The president