Minister of Home Affairs (Northern Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Minister of Home Affairs was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
(Cabinet
) in the Parliament of Northern Ireland
which governed Northern Ireland
from 1921 to 1972. The Minister of Home Affairs was responsible for a range of non-economic domestic matters, although for a few months in 1953 the office was combined with that of the Minister of Finance.
Under the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act (Northern Ireland) 1922
, the Minister was enabled to make any regulation necessary to preserve or re-establish law and order in Northern Ireland. The act specifically entitled him to ban parades, meetings, and publications, and to forbid inquests.http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/hmso/spa1922.htm
One of the position's more problematic duties was responsibility for parades in Northern Ireland
under the Special Powers Act and from 1951 the Public Order Act
. Parading was (and is) extremely contentious in Northern Ireland, and so the Minister was bound to anger one community or other regardless of what decision he made. Ministers generally allowed parades by the Orange Order and other Protestant groups to go where they wanted, while restricting nationalist
parades to Catholic
areas and banning republican
or anti-partitionist parades. Communist and other far-left parades were also sometimes banned. From time to time Ministers, for example Brian Maginess
, attempted to administer the parading issue more fairly, but usually suffered career damage as a result. The parading issue may be the reason why the Home Affairs portfolio changed hands more often than most other Ministerial positions.
In 1970 the office was combined with that of Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
with John Taylor serving as a cabinet rank junior minister, and then abolished along with the rest of the Northern Irish government in 1973.
Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Executive Committee or the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland was the government of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Generally known as either the Cabinet or the Government, the Executive Committee existed from 1922 to 1972...
(Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
) in the Parliament of Northern Ireland
Parliament of Northern Ireland
The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
which governed Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
from 1921 to 1972. The Minister of Home Affairs was responsible for a range of non-economic domestic matters, although for a few months in 1953 the office was combined with that of the Minister of Finance.
Under the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act (Northern Ireland) 1922
Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act (Northern Ireland) 1922
The Civil Authorities Act 1922, often referred to simply as the Special Powers Act, was an Act passed by the Parliament of Northern Ireland shortly after the establishment of Northern Ireland, and in the context of violent conflict over the issue of the partition of Ireland...
, the Minister was enabled to make any regulation necessary to preserve or re-establish law and order in Northern Ireland. The act specifically entitled him to ban parades, meetings, and publications, and to forbid inquests.http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/hmso/spa1922.htm
One of the position's more problematic duties was responsibility for parades in Northern Ireland
Parades in Northern Ireland
Parades are an important part of Northern Irish culture. Although the majority of parades are held ostensibly by Protestant, unionist or Ulster loyalist groups, nationalist, republican and non-political groups also parade. Parading is often considered to be an assertion of a group's control over a...
under the Special Powers Act and from 1951 the Public Order Act
Public Order Act (Northern Ireland) 1951
The Public Order Act 1951 was an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. The Act concerned meetings and 'non traditional' parades, although a 1970 amendment considerably broadened the Act's scope to include paramilitary groups and weaponry.-Contents of the Act:The first section of the Act...
. Parading was (and is) extremely contentious in Northern Ireland, and so the Minister was bound to anger one community or other regardless of what decision he made. Ministers generally allowed parades by the Orange Order and other Protestant groups to go where they wanted, while restricting nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
parades to Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
areas and banning republican
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
or anti-partitionist parades. Communist and other far-left parades were also sometimes banned. From time to time Ministers, for example Brian Maginess
Brian Maginess
William Brian Maginess, QC was a member of the Government of Northern Ireland, who was widely seen as a possible successor to Lord Brookeborough as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland....
, attempted to administer the parading issue more fairly, but usually suffered career damage as a result. The parading issue may be the reason why the Home Affairs portfolio changed hands more often than most other Ministerial positions.
In 1970 the office was combined with that of Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
with John Taylor serving as a cabinet rank junior minister, and then abolished along with the rest of the Northern Irish government in 1973.
| # | Name | Took Office | Prime Minister Prime Minister of Northern Ireland The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone... |
Party | |
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| 1. | Dawson Bates Dawson Bates Sir Richard Dawson Bates, 1st Baronet, OBE, PC, JP, DL , also known as Sir Dawson Bates , was an Ulster Unionist Party member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons.... |
June 7, 1921 | Craig, Andrews John Millar Andrews John Miller Andrews CH, PC was the second Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.-Family life:Andrews was born in Comber, County Down, Ireland in 1871, the eldest child in the family of four sons and one daughter of Thomas Andrews DL, flax spinner, and his wife Eliza Pirrie, a sister of Lord Pirrie,... |
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| 2. | William Lowry William Lowry William Lowry PC KC was an Irish barrister, judge, Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament and Attorney General for Northern Ireland-Career:... |
May 6, 1943 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 3. | Edmond Warnock Edmond Warnock John Edmond Warnock PC KC was an Irish barrister and politician.Born in Belfast, he was educated at Methodist College Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. He was called to the English Bar in 1911, to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1921 and was appointed as King's Counsel in 1933... |
November 3, 1944 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 4. | Brian Maginess Brian Maginess William Brian Maginess, QC was a member of the Government of Northern Ireland, who was widely seen as a possible successor to Lord Brookeborough as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.... |
June 21, 1946 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 5. | Edmond Warnock Edmond Warnock John Edmond Warnock PC KC was an Irish barrister and politician.Born in Belfast, he was educated at Methodist College Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. He was called to the English Bar in 1911, to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1921 and was appointed as King's Counsel in 1933... |
September 11, 1946 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 6. | Brian Maginess Brian Maginess William Brian Maginess, QC was a member of the Government of Northern Ireland, who was widely seen as a possible successor to Lord Brookeborough as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.... |
November 4, 1949 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 7. | George Hanna | October 26, 1953 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 8. | Terence O'Neill Terence O'Neill Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party... |
April 20, 1956 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 9. | W. W. B. Topping | October 23, 1956 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 10. | Brian Faulkner Brian Faulkner Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972... |
December 15, 1959 | Brookeborough Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough Basil Stanlake Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough, Bt, KG, CBE, MC, PC, HML was an Ulster Unionist politician who became the third Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1943 and held office until 1963.... |
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| 11. | William Craig | April 29, 1963 | O'Neill Terence O'Neill Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party... |
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| 12. | Brian McConnell Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell Robert William Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell was an Ulster Unionist MP in the Northern Ireland House of Commons.... |
July 22, 1964 | O'Neill Terence O'Neill Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party... |
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| 13. | William Craig | October 7, 1966 | O'Neill Terence O'Neill Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party... |
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| 14. | William Long | December 11, 1968 | O'Neill Terence O'Neill Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party... |
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| 15. | Robert Porter | March 12, 1969 | O'Neill Terence O'Neill Terence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party... , Chichester-Clark James Chichester-Clark James Dawson Chichester-Clark, Baron Moyola, PC, DL was the penultimate Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and eighth leader of the Ulster Unionist Party between 1969 and March 1971. He was Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for South Londonderry for 12 years beginning at the by-election... |
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| 16. | James Chichester-Clark James Chichester-Clark James Dawson Chichester-Clark, Baron Moyola, PC, DL was the penultimate Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and eighth leader of the Ulster Unionist Party between 1969 and March 1971. He was Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for South Londonderry for 12 years beginning at the by-election... |
August 26, 1970 | Chichester-Clark James Chichester-Clark James Dawson Chichester-Clark, Baron Moyola, PC, DL was the penultimate Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and eighth leader of the Ulster Unionist Party between 1969 and March 1971. He was Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for South Londonderry for 12 years beginning at the by-election... |
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| 17. | Brian Faulkner Brian Faulkner Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972... |
March 23, 1971 | Faulkner Brian Faulkner Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972... |
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Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs
- 1921 - 1925 Robert Dick MegawRobert Dick MegawRobert Dick Megaw was a barrister and a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.He was educated at Ballymoney Intermediate School, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Queen's College, Belfast. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1893 and was Professor of Common Law at King's Inns from 1912...
- 1925 - 1937 George Boyle HannaGeorge Hanna (1877-1938)George Boyle Hanna was a Northern Irish barrister, unionist politician and county court judge.Born in Ballymena, County Antrim and educated at Gracehill Academy, Ballymena Academy and Trinity College, Dublin, Hanna was first admitted as a solicitor in 1901, being called to the Bar in 1920, taking...
- 1937 - 1938 John Clarke DavisonJohn Clarke DavisonJohn Clarke Davison was a barrister and Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Davison was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and Trinity College, Dublin and was called to the Irish Bar in 1898. He was a legal adviser to the Government of Northern Ireland from 1922-1925, and Senior...
- 1938 - 1940 Edmond WarnockEdmond WarnockJohn Edmond Warnock PC KC was an Irish barrister and politician.Born in Belfast, he was educated at Methodist College Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. He was called to the English Bar in 1911, to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1921 and was appointed as King's Counsel in 1933...
- 1940 - 1943 William LowryWilliam LowryWilliam Lowry PC KC was an Irish barrister, judge, Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament and Attorney General for Northern Ireland-Career:...
- 1943 - 1944 Wilson HungerfordWilson HungerfordSir Alexander Wilson Hungerford , known as Wilson Hungerford, was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.Born in Belfast, Hungerford was employed by the Irish Unionist Party from 1912. In 1921, he became Secretary of the Ulster Unionist Council, serving until 1941, and was also Secretary of the...
- 1944 - 1955 vacant
- 1955 - 1956 Terence O'NeillTerence O'NeillTerence Marne O'Neill, Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC was the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party...
- 1956 - 1963 vacant
- 1963 - 1964 William Kennedy Fitzsimmons
- 1964 - 1969 vacant
- 1969 Robert PorterRobert Porter (politician)Sir Robert Wilson Porter PC , QC is a former politician and barrister in Northern Ireland.Born in Derry, Porter studied at Foyle College and Queen's University Belfast before in 1943 joining the Royal Air Force, and serving until 1946...
- 1969 - 1970 John TaylorJohn Taylor, Baron KilclooneyJohn David Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, PC , is a former Ulster Unionist Party MP and a life peer. He was deputy leader of the UUP from 1995 to 2001, and a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.-Career and family:...
- 1970 office abolished