 In 1999, following a scandal, the Chief Herald of Ireland took advice from the Attorney General's Office that successions would no longer be given "courtesy recognition" or published in the "Iris Oifigiúil".While some representatives had obtained courtesy recognition as Chiefs of the Name from the Chief Herald of Ireland, this practice was discontinued by 2003 – with the Attorney General noting that such recognitions were unconstitutional and without basis in law.As of 2006, the Chairman of The Standing Council of Irish Chiefs and Chieftains was Dr. Hugo Ricciardi O'Neill, the ostensible head of the Clandeboye O'Neill dynasty, from a branch of that family which has been in Portugal since the 18th century.