Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to give the force of Law to certain Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland, and to enable effect to be given thereto, and for other purposes incidental thereto or consequential thereon. |
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| Citation | 12 & 13 Geo. 5. c. 4 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 31 March 1922 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by |
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Status: Repealed
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The Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922 was an important law passed by the British Parliament on March 31, 1922. This Act made the Anglo-Irish Treaty official. The Treaty was a big agreement between Great Britain and Ireland. It led to the creation of the Irish Free State, which was a new, independent country.
Contents
What the Act Did
This law had several key parts.
Making the Treaty Law
- Section 1(1) of the Act said that the "Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland" would become law right away. This meant the Anglo-Irish Treaty was now legally binding.
Setting Up the New Government
- Section 1(2) helped put Article 17 of the Treaty into action. It allowed the British Government to transfer powers to the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland.
- The Act also said that the Parliament of Southern Ireland would be closed down within four months.
- New elections would be held for a new Parliament. This new Parliament would be in charge of the Provisional Government. The Act didn't give this new Parliament a name, but it said it could make laws for Southern Ireland, just like the future Parliament of the Irish Free State would.
Northern Ireland's Choice
- Sections 11 and 12 of the Act were very important for Northern Ireland. They gave Northern Ireland the right to choose if it wanted to join the new Irish Free State or stay part of the United Kingdom.
- For one month after another law (the "ratification" Act) was passed, the new Irish Free State government could not make laws for Northern Ireland.
- If both parts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland asked the King, then the Irish Free State's powers would not extend to Northern Ireland at all. This meant Northern Ireland could choose to remain separate from the Irish Free State.
Why the Act Was Important
This Act was not the final step to create the Irish Free State. That job was for another law, the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922. Instead, the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922 was mainly used to set up temporary arrangements. These arrangements were needed before the Irish Free State could be officially formed, which had to happen by December 6, 1922.
On April 1, 1922, the British Government officially transferred powers to the Provisional Government. This government had already started working on January 14, 1922. Michael Collins was its chairman. Their appointments became official and were announced in Iris Oifigiúil (the official newspaper) on April 4, 1922.
End of the Act
The Irish Free State (Agreement) Act 1922 was later cancelled. It was repealed (removed from law) by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 in the UK.
