Government of Ireland Act 1920 (repealed 2.12.1999)

Establishment of Parliaments for Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland and a Council of Ireland U.K.

1 † Establishment of Parliaments of Southern and Northern Ireland. U.K.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(2) For the purposes of this Act, Northern Ireland shall consist of the parliamentary counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, and the parliamentary boroughs of Belfast and Londonderry.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1(1) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Unreliable margin note

2 F2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 2 repealed by Ireland (Confirmation of Agreement) Act 1925 (c. 77), s. 1(2)

3 F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 3 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

4—6. F4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F4 Ss. 4–6 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

7 F5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 7 repealed by Ireland (Confirmation of Agreement) Act 1925 (c. 77), s. 1(2)

Executive Authority U.K.

8 † Executive powers. U.K.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

(7) The seats of the Goverments of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland shall be at Dublin and Belfast, respectively, or such places as the Parliaments of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland may respectively determine.

(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 8(1)(3)(5)(6)(8) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

F7 S. 8(2) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42) and Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

F8 S. 8(4) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pts. I, II

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Unreliable margin note

9 F9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 9 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

10 F10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F10 S. 10 repealed by Ireland (Confirmation of Agreement) Act 1925 (c. 77), s. 1(2) and Statute Law Revision Act 1953 (2 & 3 Eliz. 2 c. 5), Sch. 1

11—19. F11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F11 Ss. 11–19 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

Financial Provisions U.K.

20 † Establishment of Southern and Northern Ireland Exchequer. U.K.

(1)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12

(3) Save as may be otherwise provided by Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, the existing law relating to the Exchequer and Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom shall apply with the necessary modifications to the Exchequer and Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland . . . F13

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 20(1)(2)(4) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

F13 Words repealed by National Loans Act 1968 (c. 13), Sch. 6 Pt. I

F14 S. 20(5) repealed by Ireland (Confirmation of Agreement) Act 1925 (c. 77), s. 1(2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 Unreliable margin note

21 † Powers of taxation. U.K.

(1)—(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

(4) Any articles which are brought into Great Britain or the Isle of Man from Ireland, or into Ireland from Great Britain or the Isle of Man, shall be deemed to be articles exported or imported for the purposes of the forms to be used, and the information to be furnished under the M1 Customs Consolidation Act 1876 or any Act amending that Act, but for not any other purpose.

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15

Textual Amendments

F15 S. 21(1)–(3), (5) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 Unreliable margin note

Marginal Citations

M1 1876 c. 36.

22—24. F16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F16 Ss. 22–24 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

25 F17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F17 S. 25 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pts. I, II

26 Provisions as to land purchase annuities. U.K.

(1) Purchase annuities payable in respect of land situate in Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively, including any arrears thereof due or accruing due on the appointed day, shall be collected by the Governments of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the amounts so collected shall be paid into their respective Exchequers, but nothing in this Act shall confer on either such Government any powers with respect to the redemption of purchase annuities.

(2) In each year a sum equal to the amount payable in that year in respect of purchase annuities shall be paid into the Irish Land Purchase fund or account, or other appropriate fund or account, out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

(3) Where after the appointed day an existing purchase annuity is redeemed, a sum equal to the annuity shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to the Exchequer of Northern Ireland, in each year so long as the purchase annuity would, if not redeemed, have continued to be payable.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F18

(5) For the purposes of this Act—

• the expression “purchase annuities," . . . F19 , includes annuities for the repayment of advances made under any of the Land Purchase Acts prior to the M2 Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act 1891, and annuities for the repayment of advances made under the M3 Labourers (Ireland) Act 1906 or under any other Act relating to land purchase in Ireland;

• the expression “existing purchase annuity” means a purchase annuity payable in respect of an advance made in pursuance of a purchase agreement entered into, or, in the case of a purchase annuity payable under the M4 Labourers (Ireland) Act 1906 in pursuance of a scheme approved before the passing of this Act;

• the expression “new purchase annuity” means a purchase annuity payable in respect of an advance made in pursuance of a purchase agreement entered into or, in the case of a purchase annuity payable under the M5 Labourers (Ireland) Act 1906 in pursuance of a scheme approved, after the passing of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F18 S. 26(4) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

F19 Words repealed by Finance Act 1963 (c. 25), Sch. 14 Pt. VII

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C5 S. 26(2) amended by National Loans Act 1968 (c. 13), s. 3(4)

Marginal Citations

M2 1891 c. 48.

M3 1906 c. 37.

M4 1906 c. 37.

M5 1906 c. 37.

27 Existing public loans. U.K.

(1) The power of collecting and enforcing the payment of sums due on account of loans made before the appointed day to authorities and persons in Southern Ireland or Northern Ireland out of the local loans fund, the development fund, the road improvement fund or other similar public fund, shall be transferred to the Governments of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively, and the amounts so collected by them shall be paid into their respective Exchequers:

Provided that this section shall not apply to advances out of the local loans fund for the purposes of the enactments relating to land purchase in Ireland.

(2) A sum equal to the amount due in respect of such loans shall in each year be paid into the appropriate fund out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and shall, subject to the deduction of such sum as the Joint Exchequer Board think just to cover such loss as may be anticipated to result from payments on account of any such loans proving to be irrecoverable, be made good by deductions from the [F20 Northern Ireland] residuary share of reserved taxes in accordance with regulations made by the Treasury.

Textual Amendments

F20 Words substituted by virtue of Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act 1922 (13 Geo. 5 Sess. 2 c. 2), s. 1, Sch. 1 para. 4(3)(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 S. 27 restricted by Public Works Loans Act 1952 (1 & 2 Eliz. 2 c. 3), s. 6(3)(4)

28 F21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F21 S. 28 repealed with saving by Finance Act 1975 (c. 7), ss. 50, 52(2)(3), Sch. 13 Pt. I

29 Provisions against double stamp duties. U.K.

(1) Where an instrument is chargeable with stamp duty in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland, and has been stamped in any one of those countries, the instrument shall, to the extent of the duty it bears, be deemed to be stamped in the other country:

Provided that, if the stamp duty chargeable on any instrument in such other country exceeds the stamp duty chargeable in respect of that instrument in the country in which the instrument has previously been stamped, the instrument shall not be deemed to have been duly stamped in such other country unless and until stamped in accordance with the laws of that country with a stamp denoting an amount equal to such excess.

(2) Where composition for stamp duty is made or agreed to be made in any one of such countries, any instrument which by virtue of the composition is exempt from the payment of duty in that country shall, for the purposes of this section, be treated in any other such country as having been stamped in the first-mentioned country with a stamp denoting the amount of duty which, but for the composition, would have been chargeable on that instrument:

Provided that, if the legislature of such other country has imposed any conditions on the recognition therein of any composition made or agreed to be made in the first-mentioned country, this subsection shall not apply unless those conditions are complied with.

30 F22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F22 S. 30 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

31, 32. F23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F23 Ss. 31, 32 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36) Sch. 6 Pt. I

33 F24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F24 S. 33 repealed by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1945 (c. 12), Sch. Pt. I

34 F25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F25 S. 34 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

35, 36. F26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F26 Ss. 35, 36 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

37 F27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F27 S. 37 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

Provisions as to Courts of Law and Judges U.K.

38 F28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F28 Ss. 38, 40 repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23, SIF 38), s. 122, Sch. 7 Pt. I

39 F29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F29 S. 39 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

40 F30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F30 Ss. 38, 40 repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23, SIF 38), s. 122, Sch. 7 Pt. I

41 Application of existing enactments and rules. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any modifications or adaptations made by Irish Transfer Orders under this Act, all enactments relating to the Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland and the judges and officers thereof shall apply to the Supreme Court of Judicature in Northern Ireland and the judges and officers thereof, as they apply to the Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland and the judges and officers thereof, and as if for references to the High Court of Justice in Ireland there were substituted references to the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland and as if for references to the Court of Appeal in Ireland there were substituted references to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.

. . . F31

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F32

(3)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F33

Textual Amendments

F31 S. 41(1) proviso repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23, SIF 38), s. 122, Sch. 7 Pt. I

F32 S. 41(2) repealed by Northern Ireland Act 1962 (c. 30), Sch. 4 Pt. IV

F33 Ss. 41(3)(4), 42, 43 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

42, 43. F34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F34 Ss. 41(3)(4), 42, 43 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

44 F35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F35 Ss. 44, 46, 50 repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23, SIF 38), s. 122, Sch. 7 Pt. I

45 F36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F36 S. 45 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

46 F37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F37 Ss. 44, 46, 50 repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23, SIF 38), s. 122, Sch. 7 Pt. I

47 F38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F38 S. 47 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

48 F39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F39 S. 48 repealed by S.I. 1973/2163, Sch. 6

49 F40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F40 S. 49 repealed by Northern Ireland Act 1962 (c. 30), s. 30(2), Sch. 4 Pt. I

50 F41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F41 Ss. 44, 46, 50 repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23, SIF 38), s. 122, Sch. 7 Pt. I

51 F42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F42 Ss. 51, 53 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

52 F43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F43 S. 52 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

53 F44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F44 Ss. 51, 53 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

54, 55. F45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F45 Ss. 54, 55 repealed by Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (c. 56), s. 18(5), Sch. 8 Pt. II except in relation to pensions for service ending before 27.7.1971

56 F46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F46 S. 56 repealed by Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11), Sch. 8

57—59. F47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F47 Ss. 57–59 repealed by Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (c. 56), s. 18(5), Sch. 8 Pt. II except in relation to pensions for service ending before 27.7.1971

60 F48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F48 S. 60 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

General U.K.

61 Continuation of existing laws, institutions, &c. U.K.

All existing laws, institutions, and authorities in Ireland, whether judicial, administrative, or ministerial, and all existing taxes in Ireland, shall, except as otherwise provided by this Act, continue as if this Act had not passed, but with the modifications necessary for adapting them to this Act, . . . F49

Textual Amendments

F49 Words repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

62, 63. F50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F50 Ss. 62, 63 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. II

64 (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F51

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F52

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F53

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F52

Textual Amendments

F51 S. 64(1) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

F52 S. 64(2), (4) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

F53 S. 64(3) repealed by S.I. 1981/610 (N.I. 18), art. 1, Sch.

65 Special provisions as to Freemasons. U.K.

(1) It is hereby declared that existing enactments relative to unlawful oaths or unlawful assemblies in Ireland do not apply to the meetings or proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland, or of any lodge or society recognised by that Grand Lodge.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F54

Textual Amendments

F54 S. 65(2) repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

66 F55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F55 S. 66 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

67 F56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F56 S. 67 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

68 † Provisions as to certain officers of local authorities, universities or colleges. U.K.

(1) No law made by the Parliament of Northern Ireland . . . F57 shall have effect so as to prejudice or diminish the rights or privileges of any existing or pensioned officer of a local authority under the provisions of the Local Government (Ireland) Acts 1898 to 1919 . . . F58

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F59

Textual Amendments

F57 Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

F58 Words repealed by Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (c. 56), s. 18 (5), Sch. 8 Pt. II except in relation to pensions for service ending before 27.7.1971

F59 S. 68(2) repealed by Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (c. 56), s. 18(5), Sch. 8 Pt. II except in relation to pensions for service ending before 27.7.1971

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7 Unreliable margin note

69—70. F60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F60 Ss. 69, 70 repealed (without prejudice to Orders already made) by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

71 F61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F61 S. 71 repealed by Representation of the People Act 1948 (c. 65), Sch. 13

72 F62 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F62 S. 72 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

73 F63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F63 S. 73 repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

74 Definitions. U.K.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

• The expression “existing” means existing at the appointed day:

• . . . F64

• F65 . . .

• F65 . . .

• F65 . . .

• F65 . . .

• F65 . . .

• F65 . . .

• F65 . . .

• F65 . . ..

Textual Amendments

F64 Definitions repealed by Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pts. I, II

F65 Definitions in s. 74, except that of "existing", repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt.XI Group 2

75 Saving for supreme authority of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. U.K.

Notwithstanding . . . F66 anything contained in this Act, the supreme authority of the Parliament of the United Kingdom shall remain unaffected and undiminished over all persons, matters, and things in Ireland and every part thereof.

Textual Amendments

F66 Words repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42), and Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 6 Pt. I

76 † Short title and repeal. U.K.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Government of Ireland Act 1920.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F67

Textual Amendments

F67 S. 76(2) repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1927 (c. 42)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C8 Unreliable margin note