Irish House of Commons

The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from mediæval times until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords. The membership of the House of Commons was directly elected, but on a very restrictive franchise. Roman Catholics were debarred from sitting in the Irish parliament, even though they comprised the vast majority of the Irish population. Until the 1790s they were also forbidden to participate in elections to the Commons.

Related Topics:
Lower house - Parliament of Ireland - 1800 - House of Lords - Roman Catholic

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The British apponted Irish executive, under the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was not answerable to the House of Commons but to the British government. However the Chief Secretary for Ireland was usually a member of the Irish parliament. In the Commons, business was presided over by the Speaker who, in the absence of a government chosen from and answerable to the Commons, was the dominant political figure in the parliament. The House of Commons was abolished when the Irish parliament merged with its British counterpart in 1801 under the Act of Union.

Related Topics:
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland - Chief Secretary for Ireland - Speaker - British - 1801 - Act of Union

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