governor‐general

governor‐general, representative of the British crown in the Irish Free State 1922–37. The office was one of the most controversial provisions of the Anglo‐Irish treaty. The British government, aware of Irish sensitivities, allowed the Free State government, unlike the other dominions, to nominate the first incumbent, T. M. Healy.

Although in theory the governor‐general had a position equivalent to the king in Britain, in Ireland his executive powers were more circumscribed. Under the 1922 constitution, the governor‐general summoned, prorogued, and dissolved the Dáil but at dates fixed by the Dáil itself. He approved money bills on the advice of the executive council. Under article 41 the governor‐general could withhold assent to or reserve a bill provided this was in accordance with accepted Canadian practice. Although article 51 declared that executive authority was vested in the governor‐general as representative of the crown, the executive council was appointed by the governor‐general on the nomination of the president. The most important restriction concerned dissolution. Under article 53, only a president with a Dáil majority could advise dissolution, thus denying the governor‐general any discretionary powers.

One important function which the governor‐general retained until 1927 was to act as the channel of communication between the dominion government and the British government, but this was discontinued after the 1926 imperial conference (see commonwealth).

After 1932 James McNeill, who had succeeded Healy in 1928, became the focus of Fianna Fáil's hostility to the governor‐generalship. He resigned in November 1932 and was succeeded by the last incumbent, Donal Buckley (Donal Ua Buachalla), who considerably reduced the visibility of the office. In 1933, de Valera passed legislation reducing the governor‐general's powers, and in 1936 his remaining functions were removed. (See external relations act.) The office was finally abolished by the Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act 1937.

Bibliography

Sexton, Brendan , Ireland and the Crown 1922–36 (1989)

Deirdre McMahon