Compare and Contrast the Different Levels of Devolution to Be Found in Northern Ireland, Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Compare and contrast the different levels of devolution to be found in Northern Ireland, Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
1,998 words
The history of these isles, which we call Great Britain and Ireland, has produced a peculiar and unique situation of governance throughout the nations of which the islands consist. England, as largest and most populous territory in the region, has been the dominant power for centuries; annexing or merging with the Celtic nations of Wales, Scotland and Ireland between 1536 and 1800. Following the independence of the Irish Free State and partition of the island of Ireland, we have the country that is known today as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as the independent Irish Republic. Over the course of this essay I will examine the different levels of devolution to be found within Britain and Ireland, identifying similarities and differences between the types of devolution granted at present as well as possibilities for further devolution of power.
Within the United Kingdom, power has been devolved from Westminster to the outlying capitals of Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff in different ways, according to a region’s particular characteristics and idiosyncrasies. However devolution, described as “a limited form of decentralisation” (Grant, 2009), has been seen as giving power over their own affairs back to the people of each of the smaller nations, who in many cases may have felt some sense of marginalisation by rule from London. This being the case, there are certainly aspects of devolved power which have been granted to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with little variance. Administrative devolution has occurred in all three territories, with local government being given authority over running services, allocating funds and organising administration. Practically this means that areas such as Health, Education, Housing and other areas are equally the domain of each outlying government
1,998 words
The history of these isles, which we call Great Britain and Ireland, has produced a peculiar and unique situation of governance throughout the nations of which the islands consist. England, as largest and most populous territory in the region, has been the dominant power for centuries; annexing or merging with the Celtic nations of Wales, Scotland and Ireland between 1536 and 1800. Following the independence of the Irish Free State and partition of the island of Ireland, we have the country that is known today as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as the independent Irish Republic. Over the course of this essay I will examine the different levels of devolution to be found within Britain and Ireland, identifying similarities and differences between the types of devolution granted at present as well as possibilities for further devolution of power.
Within the United Kingdom, power has been devolved from Westminster to the outlying capitals of Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff in different ways, according to a region’s particular characteristics and idiosyncrasies. However devolution, described as “a limited form of decentralisation” (Grant, 2009), has been seen as giving power over their own affairs back to the people of each of the smaller nations, who in many cases may have felt some sense of marginalisation by rule from London. This being the case, there are certainly aspects of devolved power which have been granted to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with little variance. Administrative devolution has occurred in all three territories, with local government being given authority over running services, allocating funds and organising administration. Practically this means that areas such as Health, Education, Housing and other areas are equally the domain of each outlying government
Bibliography: Carrell, S. (2012, January 17). What is the West Lothian matter and why does it matter? Retrieved March 24, 2012, from The Guardian Online: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/17/what-is-west-lothian-question Grant, M Jeffrey, C. (2009). Devolution in the UK. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Jeffrey, C., & Wincott, D. (2006). Publius. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Nolan, P. (2012). The NI Peace Monitoring Report. Belfast: Community Relations Council. Wales, D. i. (2006, March 21). Devolution in Wales. Retrieved March 22, 2012, from Devolution and Constitutional Change: http://www.devolution.ac.uk/Final%20Conf/Devolution%20in%20Wales.pdf Wilford, R