Government of Ireland Act 1920
 |
|
| Name and origin | |
|---|---|
| Official name of legislation | Government of Ireland Act, 1920 |
| Location | Ireland into two autonomous regions Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland |
| Year | 1920 |
| Government introduced | Lloyd George (Liberal-Conservative coalition) |
| Parliamentary passage | |
| House of Commons passed? | Yes |
| House of Lords Passed? | Yes |
| Royal Assent? | Yes |
| Defeated | |
| Which House | - |
| Which stage | - |
| Final vote | - |
| Date | - |
| Details of legislation | |
| Legislature type | 2 bicameral parliaments |
| Unicameral subdivision | none |
| Name(s) | upper: Senate; lower: House of Commons of Southern Ireland/Northern Ireland |
| Size(s) | Senate: NI 26; SI 61 Commons: NI 52; SI 128 |
| MPs in Westminster | 46 MPs |
| Executive head | Lord Lieutenant (later replaced by the Governor of Northern Ireland) |
| Executive body | Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Ireland, Privy Council of Northern Ireland |
| Prime Minister in text | none – but one evolved in Northern Ireland |
| Responsible executive | no – but de facto responsibility to House of Commons of Northern Ireland |
| Enactment | |
| Act implemented | Limited implementation in Southern Ireland, full in Northern Ireland |
| Succeeded by | Northern Ireland Act 1998 |
The Government of Ireland Act 1920 (10 & 11 Geo. 5 c. 67) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act's long title was "An Act to provide for the better government of Ireland"; it is also known as the Fourth Home Rule Bill or (less accurately) as the Fourth Home Rule Act.
The Act was intended to establish separate Home Rule institutions within two new subdivisions of Ireland: the six north-eastern counties were to form "Northern Ireland", while the larger part of the country was to form "Southern Ireland". Both areas of Ireland were to continue as a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and provision was made for their future reunification under common Home Rule institutions.
Home Rule never took effect in Southern Ireland, due to the Irish War of Independence, which resulted instead in the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the establishment in 1922 of the Irish Free State. However, the institutions set up under this Act for Northern Ireland continued to function until they were suspended by the British parliament in 1972 as a consequence of the Troubles.
The remaining provisions of the Act still in force in Northern Ireland were repealed under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Various attempts had been made to give Ireland limited regional self-government, known as Home rule, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The First Home Rule Bill of 1886 was defeated in the House of Commons because of a split in the Liberal Party over the principle of Home Rule, while the Second Home Rule Bill of 1893, having been passed by the Commons was vetoed by the House of Lords. The Third Home Rule Bill introduced in 1912 by the Irish Parliamentary Party could no longer be vetoed after the passing of the Parliament Act 1911 which removed the power of the Lords to veto bills. They could merely be delayed for two years.
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