The President has convened the Council of State to review the Government's controversial new Criminal Justice Amendment Bill.

The proposed legislation was sent to Mary McAleese for approval this week after being rushed through the Dail and Seanad without the normal period of debate.

The bill would allow all gangland trials to be held in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, where any former or serving garda would be allowed to give opinion evidence about the existence of a criminal gang.

Mrs McAleese has decided to seek the views of the 22-member Council of State before deciding whether to refer the legislation to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality.

She will also seek the council's views on the new Defamation Bill, which aims to reform the libel laws and which also introduces a new offence of blasphemous libel.

The Council of State is an advisory group which includes the Taoiseach, the Tanaiste, the Ceann Comhairle of the Dail, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court and the Attorney General.