The Northern Ireland Assembly was a legislative assembly set up by the Government of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1973 to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland with the power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive made up of unionists and nationalists. It was dissolved in March 1975.
History
The Assembly was created by section 1 of the Northern Ireland Assembly Act 1973 (c. 17).[1] Elections were held on 28 June 1973.[2] The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973, which received royal assent on 18 July 1973, abolished the suspended Parliament of Northern Ireland and the post of Governor and made provision for a devolved administration consisting of an Executive chosen by the Assembly.[3] 108 members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from Northern Ireland's 12 Westminster constituencies, with 5 to 8 seats for each depending on its population.
The Assembly met for the first time on 31 July 1973. It elected Nat Minford as its speaker in a chaotic first session.[4] Following the Sunningdale Agreement, a power-sharing Executive was established from 1 January 1974. After opposition from within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Ulster Workers' Council strike over the proposal of an all Ireland council, the Executive and Assembly collapsed on 28 May 1974 when Brian Faulkner resigned as Chief Executive. The Assembly was prorogued the following day,[5] but continued to exist in abeyance until formally dissolved on 28 March 1975, via an Order in Council made under the Northern Ireland Act 1974.[6]
Members of the Northern Ireland Executive (1974)
| Office | Name | Term | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | Brian Faulkner | 1974 | UUP | |
| Deputy Chief Executive | Gerry Fitt | 1974 | SDLP | |
| Minister of Agriculture | Leslie Morrell | 1974 | UUP | |
| Minister of Commerce | John Hume | 1974 | SDLP | |
| Minister of Education | Basil McIvor | 1974 | UUP | |
| Minister of the Environment | Roy Bradford | 1974 | UUP | |
| Minister of Finance | Herbert Kirk | 1974 | UUP | |
| Minister of Health and Social Services | Paddy Devlin | 1974 | SDLP | |
| Minister of Housing, Local Government and Planning | Austin Currie | 1974 | SDLP | |
| Minister of Information | John Baxter | 1974 | UUP | |
| Legal Minister and Head of the Office of Law Reform | Oliver Napier | 1974 | Alliance | |
Legislation passed
The Assembly had powers to pass primary legislation known as Assembly Measures. Four such measures were passed by the assembly:
| Short title | Citation | Royal assent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long title | ||||
| Consolidated Fund Measure (Northern Ireland) 1974 | 1974 c. 1 (N.I.) | 26 March 1974 | ||
| A Measure to apply certain sums out of the Consolidated Fund to the service of the years ending on 31st March 1974 and 31st March 1975. | ||||
| Financial Provisions Measure (Northern Ireland) 1974 | 1974 c. 2 (N.I.) | 26 March 1974 | ||
| A Measure to increase the limits on sums which may be issued out of the Consolidated Fund for certain purposes; to authorise the issue of a sum to the Ulster Land Fund; to make further provision with respect to rate rebates; and for purposes connected with those matters. | ||||
| Electricity and Gas Undertakings (Financial Provisions) Measure (Northern Ireland) 1974 | 1974 c. 3 (N.I.) | 26 March 1974 | ||
| A Measure to make provision for compensating the Northern Ireland Electricity Service and certain gas undertakings in respect of financial loss due to compliance with the national policy relating to limitation of prices or with certain agreements to the like effect and for purposes connected therewith. | ||||
| National Insurance Measure (Northern Ireland) 1974 | 1974 c. 4 (N.I.) | 21 May 1974 | ||
| A Measure to amend the provisions of the National Insurance Acts (Northern Ireland) 1966 to 1973, the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Acts (Northern Ireland) 1966 to 1973 and the Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) Acts (Northern Ireland) 1966 to 1973 as to the rate or amount of benefit and contributions; to make supplementary provisions, and minor amendments of certain enactments, relating to social security; and for purposes connected with those matters. | ||||
References
- 1."Northern Ireland Assembly Act 1973: Section 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1973 c. 17 (s. 1), retrieved 18 August 2023
- 2."The Northern Ireland Assembly (Polling Day) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 10 May 1973, SI 1973/894, retrieved 18 August 2023
- 3."Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1973 c. 36, retrieved 18 August 2023
- 4."1973: Chaotic meeting of Belfast Assembly". 31 July 1973. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- 5."The Northern Ireland Assembly (Prorogation) Order 1974", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 29 May 1974, SI 1974/926, retrieved 18 August 2023
- 6."The Northern Ireland Assembly (Dissolution) Order 1975", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 18 March 1975, SI 1975/422, retrieved 18 August 2023