Citation 22. Geo. III, c. 53 | Royal assent 21 June 1782 | |
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Long title An Act to repeal an Act, made in the Sixth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the First, intituled An Act for the better securing the Dependency of the Kingdom of Ireland upon the Crown of Great Britain. Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1871 Relates to Declaratory Act of 1719; Irish Appeals Act 1783 | ||
The Repeal Act of 1782 (22. Geo. III, c. 53) was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, which repealed the Declaratory Act of 1719. The 1719 Act had declared the Parliament of Ireland dependent on the Parliament and Privy Council of Great Britain; the Repeal Act was the first part of the Constitution of 1782, which granted legislative independence to the Kingdom of Ireland. It was passed after the resignation of the North Ministry, which had overseen defeat in the American War of Independence. The Irish Patriot Party and Irish Volunteers had demanded greater autonomy, and the new Rockingham Ministry conceded in fear of an American-style revolt. The Irish Parliament subsequently passed Yelverton's Act to amend Poynings' Law, the Irish statute which had allowed the British (and before that English) Parliament to legislate for Ireland.
While Henry Grattan was satisfied with the 1782 repeal, Henry Flood demanded further that Britain positively renounce any right to legislate for Ireland; this was secured by the Irish Appeals Act 1783 (or "Renunciation Act").