Northern Ireland Act 1974
Encyclopedia
The Northern Ireland Act 1974 was an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
that made provision for the government of Northern Ireland
following the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement
. The Act authorised the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly
, and transferred its legislative powers to the Queen in Council
.
The Act was intended as a temporary measure, staying in force for just one year. However, it made provision for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
to make annual orders
extending the duration of the Act. As such, the Act remained in force until the institutions created following the 1998 Belfast Agreement
were up and running in late 1999.
The Act also established a Constitutional Convention
, which ultimately failed to achieve cross-community consensus on new constitutional arrangements, and was permanently dissolved in 1976.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
that made provision for the government of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
following the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement
Sunningdale Agreement
The Sunningdale Agreement was an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland. The Agreement was signed at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale Park located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on 9 December 1973.Unionist opposition, violence and...
. The Act authorised the dissolution of the Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)
The Northern Ireland Assembly was a legislative assembly set up by the Government of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1973 to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland with the power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive made up of unionists and nationalists....
, and transferred its legislative powers to the Queen in Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
.
The Act was intended as a temporary measure, staying in force for just one year. However, it made provision for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
to make annual orders
Statutory Instrument
A Statutory Instrument is the principal form in which delegated or secondary legislation is made in Great Britain.Statutory Instruments are governed by the Statutory Instruments Act 1946. They replaced Statutory Rules and Orders, made under the Rules Publication Act 1893, in 1948.Most delegated...
extending the duration of the Act. As such, the Act remained in force until the institutions created following the 1998 Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
were up and running in late 1999.
The Act also established a Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
, which ultimately failed to achieve cross-community consensus on new constitutional arrangements, and was permanently dissolved in 1976.