{"id":229,"date":"2021-04-04T21:23:25","date_gmt":"2021-04-04T21:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=229"},"modified":"2021-04-04T23:53:52","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T23:53:52","slug":"irish-administration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Administration"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Lord_Lieutenant\" title=\"Lord Lieutenant\">Lord Lieutenant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Role\" title=\"Role\">Role<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Privy_Council\" title=\"Privy Council\">Privy Council<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Chief_Secretary\" title=\"Chief Secretary\">Chief Secretary<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Army\" title=\"Army\">Army<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Civil_Departments_Supporting_Military\" title=\"Civil Departments Supporting Military\">Civil Departments Supporting Military<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Inland_Navigation\" title=\"Inland Navigation\">Inland Navigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Sinecures\" title=\"Sinecures\">Sinecures<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Local_Government\" title=\"Local Government\">Local Government<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Special_Commissions\" title=\"Special Commissions\">Special Commissions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/irish-administration\/#Police\" title=\"Police\">Police<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lord_Lieutenant\"><\/span>Lord Lieutenant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In the 18th century, Ireland was a kingdom with its own parliament, courts and government.\u00a0 The King of Great Britain was also King of Ireland.\u00a0 The country was ruled by a chief governor appointed by the crown.<\/p>\n<p>The chief governor was an appointed British nobleman titled the Lord Lieutenant. The Lord Lieutenant was a member of the British Cabinet.\u00a0 In the later 18th century, he ceased to attend Cabinet meetings and by 1780, no longer sat in cabinet.<\/p>\n<p>The Lord Lieutenant was at the head of the Irish administration.\u00a0 He was appointed by patent from the Crown which gave him powers to do all acts which the King might or could do himself if present there.\u00a0 From the mid-18th century the Lord Lieutenant resided in Ireland and exerted influence on Irish politics<\/p>\n<p>The Lord Lieutenant was in direct contact with the Prime Minister and British Cabinet in relation to Irish issues.\u00a0 The Lord Lieutenant managed the Irish Parliament. He played a ceremonial but also a real political role.<\/p>\n<p>The Lord Lieutenant was at the centre of social, quasi-political function and maintained high standards of hospitality. He was surrounded by a court and played a number of formal and chivalrous roles.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Role\"><\/span>Role<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Theoretically, the Lord Lieutenant\/Viceroy had considerable power.\u00a0 He had significant powers of appointment. In the early part of the 18th century, Lords Lieutenant based themselves in England and attended Ireland during sessions of Parliament for about six months every two years.<\/p>\n<p>The Lord Lieutenant was \u00a0responsible directly to the British Cabinet and not the Irish Parliament. His principal objective was to ensure that revenue bills were passed by the Irish Parliament and that bills unacceptable to the government were quashed.<\/p>\n<p>During the year and a half interval between vice regal visits, the executive authority of Ireland rested with the Lord Justices. The policy adopted still appointed Lord Chancellor primate of the Speaker of the House of Commons as Lord Justice.\u00a0 The Lord Justice appointed sheriffs and lieutenants of counties.<\/p>\n<p>They dealt with a wide range of business, including \u00a0regulation of coinage, the enforcement of criminal law and the \u00a0supervision of corporations.\u00a0 They advised and guided the Lord Lieutenant.<\/p>\n<p>In 1767, a change\u00a0 of \u00a0policy on the part of the British government required that the Lord Lieutenant sees to reside rather than conduct his business to undertakers or delegates.\u00a0 Until the end of the century, Lords Lieutenant assisted by their chief secretary conducted the business office directly.\u00a0 This was not changed by the grant of independence to the Irish Parliament in 1782.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Privy_Council\"><\/span>Privy Council<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Lord Lieutenant (and prior to permanent residence, the \u00a0Lord Justices) were assisted by a Privy Council. The Lord Lieutenant remained responsible directly to the British Cabinet and not the Irish Parliament.<\/p>\n<p>The Privy Council prepared government bills and approved types of bills coming from Parliament.\u00a0 They had to be transmitted to the British Privy Council for approval under Ponying\u2019s law prior to procedure through the Irish Parliament.<\/p>\n<p>The Privy Council also dealt with a range of matters including, the maintenance of public order.\u00a0 It theoretically could exercise control over the Lord Lieutenant \u00a0because his acts were not valid unless confirmed by a majority of the council.\u00a0 However, in practice, no significant control was exercised.<\/p>\n<p>In the early 18th century, the Viceroys were absent, for \u00a0between half and three quarters of their term of office. The Viceroy, Chief Secretary and several leading politicians were English in this era.\u00a0 The senior judges were often English.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chief_Secretary\"><\/span>Chief Secretary<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Chief Secretary assisted the Lord Lieutenant in administrative functions.\u00a0 The Chief Secretary\u2019s functions and status increased during the 18th century.\u00a0 Prior to 1750 only one sat in cabinet.\u00a0 Prior to the middle of the 18th century the Lord Lieutenant tended to come to Ireland only for Parliamentary sessions but thereafter became permanently resident.<\/p>\n<p>After 1750, almost half of the Chief Secretaries sat in the cabinet. The Irish Chief Secretary-role was often a role for politicians early in their career who would later achieve more significant office.<\/p>\n<p>The Chief Secretary&#8217;s department comprised Under-Secretaries and layers of officials.\u00a0 There were two principal Under Secretaries at the end of the 18th century, one responsible for military affairs and other for civil affairs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Army\"><\/span>Army<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There was no Irish army as such, but regiments of the British Army were stationed and supported by the Irish Parliament.\u00a0In 1769 the force was fixed at 15,000 but this rose to 76,000 by the end of a century due to the Napoleonic wars with France.<\/p>\n<p>A number of British regiments were financed by the Irish Parliament.\u00a0 The number had been fixed at 1,500 in 1770, but by 1800, had increased to 76,000 on account of wars with France. There was also a yeomanry of approximately 37,000 part time soldiers in the local divisions, whose officers were generally country gentlemen appointed by the Lord \u00a0Lieutenant.<\/p>\n<p>The forces were under the command of the commander-in-chief in Ireland.\u00a0 The commander-in-chief was assisted by Adjutant General, Quartermaster General, Judge Advocate General, Provost Marshal and an Army Medical Board.\u00a0 The Lord Lieutenant was nominally in charge of the Army.<\/p>\n<p>The Barracks Board and Board of Works were responsible for military barracks and buildings housing the administration.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the army, there was about 30,000 yeomanry, who were part-time soldiers in local corps.\u00a0 Their officers were usually country gentleman commissioned by the Lord Lieutenant.<\/p>\n<p>The Commander-in-Chief in Ireland was assisted by an Adjunct General, Quartermaster General, Provost Marshal and an Army Medical Board.<\/p>\n<p>The Lord Lieutenant was nominally commanderf and Captain General of the Army.\u00a0 However, the day-to-day control of the army was vested in the Commander-in-Chief and the Lord Lieutenant was kept informed and consulted on significant issues.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Civil_Departments_Supporting_Military\"><\/span>Civil Departments Supporting Military<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Five civil departments provided important functions for the military;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the Barrack Board,<\/li>\n<li>Board of Works,<\/li>\n<li>Commissariat,<\/li>\n<li>Ordnance and<\/li>\n<li>Muster Master General&#8217;s office<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Muster Master\u2019s General kept records, regimental records and made returns showing the strength and capacity of the Army. The Barrack Board and Board of Works were responsible for military buildings.\u00a0 It comprised over fifty Barrack Masters through the country.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inland_Navigation\"><\/span>Inland Navigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Commissioners for Improving inland navigation were established in 1752 for the purpose of promoting inland navigation in Ireland.\u00a0 It was empowered to levy tolls and was given the yield from certain taxation.<\/p>\n<p>It was dissolved an 1787 after an investigation which showed its accounting for public moneys to be extremely poor.\u00a0 Its uncompleted projects were given to the local commissioners.\u00a0 New canal legislation in 1800 allowed the Lord Lieutenant to appoint five full time directors to supervise canal companies and administer canals built at public expense.<\/p>\n<p>The system of appointments and promotions gave opportunities for patronage.\u00a0 Some appointments and promotions were merit based, or more commonly based on seniority. A certain number were based on influence.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sinecures\"><\/span>Sinecures<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many of the great Irish offices were sinecures distributed amongst English politicians, many \u00a0carrying a significant salary. A significant number of royal favourites were granted pensions from Irish sources unconnected with any service.<\/p>\n<p>In other cases, the functions were performed by a Deputy.\u00a0 In extreme cases, the holders of the office drew monies and revenue while undertaking little in the way of duties.<\/p>\n<p>Some senior officials were paid wholly or more commonly partly by fees which were not necessarily related to the services provided.\u00a0 Some older offices were viewed as a form of property.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the 18th century the Irish Parliament was beginning to scrutinise public expenditure and efficiency.\u00a0 The process of rationalisation of the administration \u00a0largely. did not occur until after then Union.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Local_Government\"><\/span>Local Government<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The local governments units at the end of the 18th century comprised Grand Juries in the counties, borough corporations and parish vestries.\u00a0 In 1817, the Justice of the Peace were given power to investigate and give opinions on presentments of the Grand Jury.<\/p>\n<p>Some \u00a0boroughs had been granted in the 17th century under the Royal prerogative. Many boroughs had been created for parliamentary purposes to create seats which were in the hands of local land magnets.\u00a0 Some boroughs were tiny villages, and some had no inhabitants whatsoever.<\/p>\n<p>By the late18th century, nearly 90 boroughs had some apparatus of local government.\u00a0 In almost all cases, the governing bodies were comprised of persons co-opted for life.<\/p>\n<p>In Dublin, Cork and Drogheda, \u00a0the governing bodies includes representatives of guilds or were persons chosen by the freemen.<\/p>\n<p>Dublin Corporation was relatively democratic albeit \u00a0with a very limited franchise and containing elements of appointments for life. In Dublin, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and commons comprise representative of 25 guilds elected every three year.<\/p>\n<p>Aldermen held office for life with vacancies being filled by the \u00a0commons choosing one from sheriffs\u2019 peers selected by the Aldermen.\u00a0 The sheriffs\u2019 peers were freemen who had served as Sheriff.\u00a0 Two Sheriffs were elected annually by the Aldermen for eight names but forward by the commons.\u00a0 The Lord Mayor and Aldermen were elected by the Board and approved by the commons.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Special_Commissions\"><\/span>Special Commissions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Special Commissions were established for particular functions including<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the Wide Streets Commissioners (1785),<\/li>\n<li>the Ballast Board (1766)<\/li>\n<li>a Commission with planning powers,<\/li>\n<li>Paving Board (1774) and<\/li>\n<li>Police Magistry (1785)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Commissioners were similarly established in other major urban centres.\u00a0 Commissioners were established for harbours, paving, cleansing and lighting, piped water and as police Commissioners in various towns and borough.\u00a0 The result was a highly complex web of bodies dealing with urban conditions.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Police\"><\/span>Police<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Parish constables were appointed by the Justices of the Peace.\u00a0 High constables, baronial or sub constables were appointed by the Grand Jury.\u00a0 They were generally part-time and badly paid.<\/p>\n<p>In 1795, provision was made for each parish to elect directors of the watch, who were to appoint and supervise two constables, two sub-constables and watchmen for the parish.\u00a0 The total number of watchmen for Dublin city was to be not more than 500.<\/p>\n<p>In both the north and south city, there was a divisional justice with a High Constable, Chief Peace Officer and 25 sub-constables under his control.\u00a0 The Divisional Justice and the police were supervised by a Superintendent Magistrate.\u00a0 Justices and Magistrates were appointed by -by the city corporation.<\/p>\n<p>Legislation provided that prisoners were to be kept clean and provided with minimum standards of food and hygiene for prisoners.\u00a0 There was to be a physician, a doctor and Inspector for each prison appointed by the Grand Jury.<\/p>\n<p>There was an Inspector General of Prisoners appointed by the Lord Lieutenant who was to visit and report and advise on prisons.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-229\" data-postid=\"229\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-229 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lord Lieutenant In the 18th century, Ireland was a kingdom with its own parliament, courts and government.\u00a0 The King of Great Britain was also King of Ireland.\u00a0 The country was ruled by a chief governor appointed by the crown. The chief governor was an appointed British nobleman titled the Lord Lieutenant. The Lord Lieutenant was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":279,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions\/279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}