Privy Council of Northern Ireland

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The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the Sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in the province. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

The Council was created in 1922 as a result of the division of Ireland into the Irish Free State and the state of Northern Ireland, the latter of which remained part of the United Kingdom but, occasionally with its own Parliament. The previous Privy Council of Ireland was abolished at the same time.

The Privy Council of Northern Ireland consisted of senior members of the Northern Ireland government including the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, its members were appointed for life. The Council rarely met and was largely a ceremonial body with its responsibilities exercised by the cabinet. It became dormant in 1972 when the Parliament of Northern Ireland was suspended and its powers were transferred to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, a member of the British Cabinet. No appointments to the body have been made since its suspension and it was not revived when home rule was reinstated with the creation of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998.

[edit] See also

 
State & Government in Northern Ireland 1922-1972
Flag of Northern Ireland

Executive of Northern Ireland
Governor | Prime Minister | Executive Committee | Privy Council of Northern Ireland | Royal Assent


Legislature of Northern Ireland
Stormont Parliament (made up of the House of Commons & the Senate)