Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg.png) | |
| Long title | An Act to make temporary provision for the government of Northern Ireland, and for purposes connected therewith. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1972 c. 22 |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 30 March 1972 |
| Commencement | 30 March 1972[b] |
| Repealed | 2 December 1999[c] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | Northern Ireland Act 1998 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 (c. 22) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that introduced direct rule in Northern Ireland with effect from 30 March 1972.[1]
The act, which took effect immediately on receiving royal assent, provided as follows:
- A new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was to take over the government functions of Northern Ireland's ceremonial Governor and its executive cabinet ministers, and heads of government departments
- The Attorney General for England and Wales was to take over the duties of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
- The Parliament of Northern Ireland was (in effect) indefinitely prorogued, with its legislative powers being made available for exercise by the British Government by Order in Council.
The political institutions that were put into abeyance by this Act were formally abolished the following year by the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.
Reaction
Prominent Northern Ireland MP, William Craig described the enactment of the legislation as "Ulster's El Alamein".[2]
Subsequent developments
The schedule to the act, except paragraphs 6(2) and 7, was repealed by section 1(1) of, and part XII of schedule 1 to, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977, which came into force on 16 June 1977.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Section 3.
- ↑ The Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793.
- ↑ The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Commencement No. 5) Order 1999 (SI 1999/3209).
References
- ↑ "CAIN: HMSO: Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972". cain.ulster.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ↑ "Protestants March in Ulster". The Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. 19 March 1972. p. A15.
- ↑ "Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1977", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1977 c. 18
External links
- Text of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 as originally enacted or made within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.