Ireland was a distinct kingdom until 1801, when the Union with Ireland Act, 1800 (39 & 40 Geo. 3, c. 67) (see Chitty's Statutes, tit. 'Union Acts'), formed the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.' This Act confirmed the eight Articles of Union, and provided for Irish representation in both Houses of Parliament at Westminster. Redistribution of the Irish seats in the House of Commons was carried out in 1832, 1867, and 1885. The constant demand for a separate Parliament for Ireland led to the introduction of various Bills, but it was not until 1914 that the Government of Ireland Act of that year was placed on the Statute Book. The operation of this Act was suspended for the duration of the war. The demand of the Irish Republicans of the South for a complete severance led to the Govern-ment of Ireland Act, 1920, which superseded the Act of 1914. It provided for separate Governments in Northern and Southern Ireland, each with an Executive and Legislature of two chambers, and a Council of Ireland to co-ordinate the work of the two Legislatures. Northern Ireland accepted and brought this Government into being, Sir James Craig becoming the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. The Republicans (Sinn Fein, 'Ourselves Alone') of Southern Ireland refused to accept the Act, and after prolonged negotiations between the Cabinet of the United Kingdom and representatives of Sinn Fein a Peace Treaty was signed on 6th Dec., 1921. This Treaty, which con-ferred 'Dominion status' on the Irish Free State (Saorstat Eireann), was given the force of law by the Irish Free State (Agreement)Act, 1922 (12 Geo. 5, c. 4), and carried into effect by the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922 (Session 2), 13 Geo. 5, c. 1. This Act has annexed to it the Constituent Act of the Dail Eireann, to which reference should be made. The Constitution of the Irish Free State came into operation on 6th Dec., 1922.
The Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922 (Session 2), 13 Geo. 5, c. 2, modifies the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, as contemplated in Art. 12 of the Treaty. This modification involved the abolition of the High Court of Appeal for Ireland, and provided for appeal from decisions of Courts in Northern Ireland to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland, and thence to the House of Lords. For particulars of the Courts of Irish Free State, see the Courts of Justice Act, 1924. (Irish Free State Acts, 1924, No. 10)
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