Prime Minister of Northern Ireland

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of government of the Government of Northern Ireland, created by the Government of Ireland Act of 1920 . The office existed from June 7, 1921 to March 30, 1972 (this was followed by the Direct Rule from London ).

Emergence

The new office of governor (English Governor ) did not yet exist, as it was not provided for by the original Government of Ireland Act of 1920. The post was only created through an additional declaration. Until the establishment in 1922, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland held this office on a provisional basis. However, the Governor of Northern Ireland, similar to a Governor General in the Westminster system like Canada , decided to appoint a chairman for the Executive Committee of the Privy Council for Northern Ireland, although this function was not enshrined in any law or statute. The holder was given the title of Prime Minister to create a parallel with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom . On the advice of the newly appointed Prime Minister, the Governor (the Governor of Northern Ireland ) created the Department of the Prime Minister .

The Government of Ireland Act formed the basis for the governor's appointment of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council. No parliamentary decision was required for this. In theory, the Executive Committee and its Prime Minister were not accountable to the House of Commons of Northern Ireland . In fact, however, the governor appointed the party leader, whose party had a majority in the House of Representatives, to form a government . Due to the dominance of the Ulster Unionist Party , this has always been the leader of the UUP.

End of autonomy

In 1972 , in the wake of the escalating conflict in Northern Ireland , various groups (including the IRA on the part of the Irish nationalists , and the Ulster Defense Association on the part of the Unionists, for example ) killed many civilians. In March the British government dissolved the Northern Irish Parliament and Northern Ireland was ruled from London by a Northern Ireland minister from March 24th ( Direct Rule ).

New beginning

The office of First Minister of Northern Ireland was established with the Belfast Agreement in 1998 . In contrast to a government led by a parliamentary majority, the power of government in an all-party government is divided up according to the principle of consociation .

Other facts

The Prime Minister resided on Cabin Hill from 1920 to 1922 , which was later converted into a school. After 1922 Stormont Castle was in use. However, some Prime Ministers chose to stay at Stormont House , the unused residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons . All six Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland were members of the Orange Order .

Prime Minister of Northern Ireland

No. Surname Taking office The End Political party
1. James Craig June 7, 1921 † November 24, 1940 UUP
2. John Miller Andrews November 27, 1940 May 1, 1943 UUP
3. Basil Brooke May 1, 1943 March 25, 1963 UUP
4th Terence O'Neill March 25, 1963 May 1st 1969 UUP
5. James Chichester-Clark May 1st 1969 March 23, 1971 UUP
6th Brian Faulkner March 23, 1971 March 30, 1972 UUP

Footnotes

  1. ^ Alan J. Ward, The Irish Constitutional Tradition . P. 111.
  2. ^ A b Alan J. Ward, The Irish Constitutional Tradition . P. 116.
  3. ^ Section 8, Government of Ireland Act, 1920.
  4. ↑ see List of Ministers for Northern Ireland

swell