Privy Council of Northern Ireland facts for kids

The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a special group of advisors to the King or Queen of the United Kingdom. It helped the monarch use their special powers in Northern Ireland. This group was created to be similar to an older group called the Privy Council of Ireland.

This council was set up in 1922. This happened when Ireland was divided into two parts: the Irish Free State (which is now the Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland stayed part of the United Kingdom, but it had its own government and parliament. The old Irish Privy Council was no longer used after this division.

The members of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland were important people from the Northern Ireland government. This included the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Once someone became a member, they stayed a member for life. This council did not meet very often. It was mostly a ceremonial group, meaning it had an official role but its real work was done by the Cabinet (the main group of government ministers). The last new members were added in 1971. The council effectively ended when the Parliament of Northern Ireland was officially closed in 1973. Its powers were then given to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who is a minister in the British government.

Members of the council were allowed to use the special title "The Right Honourable". If they were also a peer (like a Lord), they could use "PC (NI)" after their name. As of May 2022, two members were still alive: Lord Kilclooney and Robin Bailie.

Important Members of the Council

Many important politicians and judges from Northern Ireland were members of the Privy Council. They were chosen because of their senior roles in the government or legal system. Some of these notable members included:

See also

• List of Privy Counsellors of Northern Ireland
• List of Northern Ireland members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom