President Michael D Higgins has signed into law a bill that contained changes in relation to the Defence Forces following a referral to the Council of State.
The legislation was referred to the Council of State, which met on Monday to consider the constitutionality of the Defence (Amendment) Bill.
The legislation had passed all stages in the Oireachtas earlier this month.
President Higgins had sought the views of members of the Council of State before deciding whether to refer the legislation to the Supreme Court or not.
In a statement from Áras an Uachtaráin, President Higgins said that having considered "all of the options" available to him, he signed the bill.
The statement added that the decision to sign the legislation "does not close off any actions sought by any member of the Defence Forces, or their representative association, to challenge the provisions of the Bill in the future."
Under the constitution, if the bill had been referred to the Supreme Court and was subsequently enacted, it would no longer be possible for any court to question the validity of the bill
The Council of State is made up of former presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese and former taoisigh including Bertie Ahern, Leo Varadkar and Enda Kenny.
Both Brian Cowen and Tánaiste Micheál Martin sent their apologies for the meeting earlier this week.
The Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) said the lack of meaningful consultation with Defence Forces representative associations throughout the process has been "a source of significant concern" to its members, but it said it takes solace in the repeated assurances by the Tánaiste that its rights to represent its members will not be diminished, but rather enhanced by this legislation.
In a statement ROCO said that its members note in particular that the President's decision to sign the legislation does not close off any actions sought by any member of the Defence Forces, or their representative association, to challenge the provisions of the Bill in the future, should that be required.
It thanked President Higgins "for his careful consideration of the debate and the concerns raised", and it said it appreciates "the time and effort of the Council of State in their recent deliberations on the constitutionality of the Bill".
It also thanked members of the Oireachtas "who opposed the deficiencies in the legislation".
