The Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 was one of the key statute laws enacted by the Irish Free State. Two years earlier the Irish Free State Constitution had provided for the formation of a cabinet called the Executive Council. The Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 formally defined the government departments that were to exist in the Free State, created their titles and outlined their responsibilities. Though much of the Act has been repealed or amended, the Act is still seen as the foundation stone for the structures of modern Irish government. A statute is a formal, written law of a country or state, written and enacted by its legislative authority, perhaps to then be ratified by the highest executive in the government, and finally published. ... The Irish Free State (Irish: Saorstát Éireann) was (1922–1937) the name of the state comprising the 26 of Irelands 32 counties which were separated from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland under the Irish Free State Agreement (or Anglo-Irish Treaty) signed by British and... The Constitution of the Irish Free State was the constitution of the southern Irish state established in December 1922. ... The Executive Council (Irish: Ard-Chomhairle) was the cabinet and de facto executive branch of government of the 1922-1937 Irish Free State. ...

W.T. Cosgrave
whose government drafted the Act.

cropped image of WT Cosgrave from Image:WTCosgrave. ... cropped image of WT Cosgrave from Image:WTCosgrave. ...

Origins

Prior to the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, two governmental systems co-existed uneasily. Signature page of the Anglo-Irish Treaty The Anglo-Irish Treaty was a treaty between the British government and the Irish Republic which brought the Anglo-Irish War to an end and established the Irish Free State. ...

Lord Lieutenant's administration

The legal goverment of Ireland was an executive and Irish Privy Council under the British Lord Lieutenant of Ireland but in reality run by the effective prime minister, the Chief Secretary for Ireland. Official standard of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (also known as the Viceroy or in the Middle Ages as the Lord Deputy) was the head of the Kingdom of Englands (before the Act of Union 1707) or Kingdom of Great Britains (after 1707... The Chief Secretary was the most important position for determining Ireland after the Lord Lieutenant, and was frequently a cabinet level position in the 19th and early twentieth centuries. ...

In January 1922, the Lord Lieutenant's administration was replaced by the Provisional Government, chosen by the House of Commons of Southern Ireland in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and the earlier Government of Ireland Act, 1920. January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Provisional Government was, in British law, the transitional government of Southern Ireland in 1922 from the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty to the creation of the Irish Free State. ... House of Commons of Southern Ireland was the lower house of the Irish parliament created by the Government of Ireland Act, passed in 1920, during the Irish War of Independence. ... An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act 1920 (this is its official short title; the formal citation is 10 & 11 Geo. ...

The Irish Republic

Between 1919 and 1922, alongside and challenging the legal but unpopular British regime, a UDI Irish Republic existed, having been chosen by the illegal Dáil Éireann (House of Assembly) made up of Irish MPs elected in the 1918 general election. Its structures were laid out in its temporary constitution, the Dáil Constitution (Bunreacht Dáil Éireann). Its executive, the Áireacht, was headed by the Príomh Áire, who in August 1921 became President of the Republic. 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1922 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A declaration of independence is a proclamation of the independence of a newly formed or reformed independent state from a part or the whole of the territory of another, or a document containing such a declaration. ... Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... MP or mp can mean any of the following: Member of Parliament Military Police Modus ponens Madhya Pradesh - a state in India Mathematical Physics Microprocessor Machine Pistol Molecular Pathology Multi-port Multi-platform Mission Possible - a Christian based childrens ministry. ... The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. ... The Constitution of Dáil Éireann (Irish: Bunreacht Dála Éireann), more commonly known as the Dáil Constitution, was a short, provisional constitution adopted by the First Dáil in January 1919. ... The Aireacht or Ministry was the cabinet of the 1919-1922 Irish Republic. ... The head of government under the Dáil Constitution adopted by the First Dáil of the Irish Republic in January 1919. ... This article is about the president of the 1919-1922 Irish Republic Republic of Ireland see: President of Ireland. ...

Enactment of the 1922 constitution

Dublin Castle
Location of the Lord Lieutenant's administration until January 1922.

In December 1922, under the Treaty's provisions, the new constitution, having been enacted separately by the Third Dáil sitting as a constituent assembly and the Parliament of the United Kingdom, came into force through a proclamation issued the King. image of Dublin Castle - no copyright, I took the picture File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... image of Dublin Castle - no copyright, I took the picture File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Third Dáil, also known as the Provisional Parliament or the Constituent Assembly, was the parliament of the post-partition twenty-six county Irish state which met from 9th September, 1922 until 9th August 1923. ... A constituent assembly is a body elected with the purpose of drafting, and in some cases, adopting a constitution. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ...

Both the Republican and Provisional governments were replaced by one legal government, the Executive Council, under the chairmanship of the President of the Executive Council. Initially its governmental offices were an amalgam of posts from the Lord Lieutenant's administration, the Provisional Government and the Áireacht. For example, there was an Irish Postmaster General, a post that had existed in the Lord Lieutenant's administration, and a Minister for Home Affairs, an office created as part of the Republican government. The President of the Executive Council (Irish: Uachtaráin na hArd-Chomhairle) was the head of government or prime minister of the 1922-1937 Irish Free State, and the leader of the Executive Council (cabinet). ...

Abolitions, creations and renamings

Governor-General Tim Healy
His speech from the throne at the State Opening of the Oireachtas in October 1923 first revealed plans to introduce the Act.

In the Governor-General's speech in the Dáil chamber at the State Opening of the Oireachtas on 3 October 1923 the first indication was given that Dáil Éireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in Leap years). ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Amongst the measures to be submitted to you will be one providing for the organisation of the great departments of State, the distribution of their functions in a manner calculated to bring about greater efficiency in administration, and the regular Constitution of the Ministries charged with the administration of the various Departments of Government.^[1]

This was done in 1924, by means of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, by which the governmental structures that were intended to be a permanent feature of independent Irish government were regularised and defined. Some longstanding positions, like those of Postmaster-General and Solicitor-General, were abolished, as was the Ministry for Labour, a post created originally in the Dáil Constitution. Others, most notably another created in the days of the Republic, the Ministry of Home Affairs, underwent a name change, moving from the British-sounding name Home Affairs which had parallels with Home Secretary, to the more European-sounding Minister for Justice. The Home Secretary (official full title Secretary of State for the Home Department) is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order in England and Wales; his or her remit includes policing, the criminal justice system, the prison service, internal security, and matters of citizenship and immigration. ... World map showing location of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ...

Structures created

The government departments created were

• Department of the President of the Executive Council (Departmental head: President of the Executive Council / Uachtarán na hArd Chomhairle)

• The Department of Finance (Departmental head: Minister for Finance / an t-Aire Airgid)

• The Department of Justice (Departmental head: Minister for Justice / an t-Aire Dlí agus Cirt)^[2]

The Anglo-Irish Treaty
The new Act owed its orgins to this document.

• The Department of Local Government and Public Health (Departmental head: Minister for Local Government and Public Health / an t-Aire Rialtais Aitiúla agus Sláinte Puiblí)

• The Department of Education (Departmental head: Minister for Education / an t-Aire Oideachais)

• The Department of Lands and Agriculture (Departmental head: Minister for Lands and Agriculture / an t-Aire Tailte agus Talmhaíochta)^[3]

• The Department of Industry and Commerce (Departmental head: Minister for Industry & Commerce / an t-Aire Tionnscail agus Tráchtála) ^[4]

• The Department of Fisheries (Departmental head: Minister for Fisheries / an t-Aire Iascaigh)

• The Department of Posts and Telegraphs (Departmental head: Minister for Posts and Telegraphs / an t-Aire Puist agus Telegrafa)^[5]

• The Department of Defence (Departmental head: Minister for Defence / an t-Aire Cosanta)

• The Department of External Affairs (Departmental head: Minister for External Affairs / an t-Aire Gnóthaí Coigríche)

The Irish Minister for Finance is the second most important ministerial position in the Irish Cabinet after that of the Taoiseach. ... The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform is the chief minister in charge of law and order in the Republic of Ireland. ... Download high resolution version (433x684, 11 KB)Signature page from the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 From the National Archives of Ireland at [1] File links The following pages link to this file: Anglo-Irish Treaty Categories: UK Government images ... Download high resolution version (433x684, 11 KB)Signature page from the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 From the National Archives of Ireland at [1] File links The following pages link to this file: Anglo-Irish Treaty Categories: UK Government images ... The Minister for Education & Science is the chief person at the Department of Education & Science is engaged in a wide range of activities covering pllicy planning, quality assurance and providing a broad range of services for education in the Republic of Ireland. ... The Minister for Agriculture and Food is an important position in the Irish Government. ... The Minister for Posts & Telegraphs was responsible for Irelands postal and telecommunications services since the foundation of the State until 1984, the department was one of the largest civil service departments in Ireland. ... The Minister for Defence is in charge of the Department of Defence in the Republic of Ireland. ... The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs (An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha) in the Irish Government. ...

Other key parts of the Act

Flag of the Lord Lieutenant
The last remnants of the Lord Lieutenant's administration were swept away with the new Act.

The Act created the post of Attorney-General of Saorstát Eireann. He was to take over File links The following pages link to this file: Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Ministers and Secretaries Act Categories: Flag images ... File links The following pages link to this file: Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Ministers and Secretaries Act Categories: Flag images ...

the business, powers, authorities, duties and functions formerly vested in or exercised by the Attorney-General for Ireland, the Solicitor-General for Ireland, the Attorney-General for Southern Ireland, the Solicitor-General for Southern Ireland, the Law Adviser to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and any or all of them respectively . . . .^[6]

The Act also created the post of Parliamentary Secretary, a junior minister below cabinet rank. The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then (from the Act of Union 1800) United Kingdom government office. ... The Solicitor-General for Ireland was an Irish and then (from the Act of Union 1800) United Kingdom government office. ...

It also created an official Seal for the Executive Council, and created a Council for Defence to aid and advise the Minister for Defence.

The Act provided for the existence of ministerial salaries for members of the Executive Council and Parliamentary Secretaries.

It also stated that all executive orders were to be published in the Irish state gazette, which was to be known as Iris Oifigiúil. Iris Oifigiúil (Pronounced: IR-ISH IFIC-GOUL Meaning: Official Gazette) replaced the Dublin Gazette on January 31, 1922 as the official newspaper of record of the Irish Free State. ...

Enactment of the law

Leinster House
The seat of parliament in the new Irish Free State.

The Ministers and Secretaries Bill, 1924, which was proposed by the Cumann na nGaedhael Executive Council of W.T. Cosgrave, was passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann before receiving the Royal Assent from the Governor-General, Timothy Michael Healy. image of Leinster House. ... image of Leinster House. ... Cumann na nGaedheal (League of the Gaels) was an Irish language name given to two Irish political parties. ... William Thomas Cosgrave, (June 6, 1880 - November 16, 1965) served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932. ... The Dáil Chamber The chamber was remodelled in the early 1920s. ... The Seanad Chamber The Seanad meets in the former picture gallery in Leinster House. ... The Governor-General (Irish: Seanascal) was the representative of the King in the 1922-1937 Irish Free State. ... Timothy Michael Healy, KC (17 May 1855–26 March 1931) was one of the most brilliant and most controversial of Irish politicians, with a career that spanned the period from Charles Stewart Parnells leadership of the Irish Parliamentary Party in the 1880s to the foundation of the Irish Free...

Longterm impact of the Act

Though much of what it contained has been repealed or amended, the Act remains one of the most important pieces of statute law enacted by independent Ireland. The structures, with modification, as initially created in 1924 continue to the present. Ten of the eleven departments, with some changes in name and roles, continue in existence. A statute is a formal, written law of a country or state, written and enacted by its legislative authority, perhaps to then be ratified by the highest executive in the government, and finally published. ...

Only the Department of Posts and Telegraphs has been abolished in 1984, with its role handed over to the semi-state companies An Post and Telecom Éireann - the latter was subsequently privatised and is now a private company called Eircom. 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A small An Post post box attached to a telephone/electricity pole. ... Telecom Éireann, or formally Bord Telecom Éireann - The Irish Telecommunications Board, was created by the Postal & Telecommunications Services Act, 1983 from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, Ireland, under the leadership of the Minister for Posts & Telegraphs. ... eircom Group plc is the largest telecommunications operator in the Republic of Ireland. ...

The Department of Industry and Commerce was increased in its role and renamed in 1995 while the Department of External Affairs was replaced the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1972. 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The only Department created in 1924 to be completely abolished, was replaced by An Post and Telecom Éireann in 1984

The Department of Local Government and Public Health ended up splitting in three to form the Department of Local Government (later called the Department of the Environment), the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare.

Part of the Department of Industry and Commerce was made into a separate Department of Labour in the mid 1960s. (It disappeared again in the late 1990s.)

The post of Parliamentary Secretary was abolished in 1978 and replaced by a new, higher profile junior ministerial post called Minister of State. 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Minister of State is a title borne by officials in certain countries governed under the parliamentary system. ...

Through there are no secretaries to be covered by later Acts, in honour of the first Act all subsequent laws changing the structures of government departments have used the name the Ministers and Secretaries Act also.

Footnotes

Though the Irish state celebrated her, Countess Markievicz's old Ministry of Labour was abolished.

1. ^  The department was previously known as the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Republic and between 1922 and 1924.)
2. ^  This new department replaced the Department of Agriculture and Technical Drawing that had existed under the Lord Lieutenant originally under Sir Horace Plunkett at the start of the century.
3. ^  The Republic's Ministry of Labour, once held by Countess Markievicz was abolished and its responsibilities given to the new Department.
4. ^  This department and minister replaced the Postmaster General
5. ^  Section 6(1).

Download high resolution version (1164x684, 698 KB)Irish Stamp, Countess Markievcz This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ... Download high resolution version (1164x684, 698 KB)Irish Stamp, Countess Markievcz This image of a postage stamp may be copyrighted and/or have other restrictions on its reproduction imposed by the issuing authority. ... Constance Georgine Markiewicz (1868?1927), was an Irish politician and nationalist. ... A Postmaster General is the national politician in charge of the postal system of a country. ...

External links

• Text of the Act