Key dates

1494

Poynings' Law: A law passed in Ireland gives the English Crown and Privy Council an effective veto over Irish legislation.

1642

Act of Settlement: Parliament legislated to confiscate land from Catholics as compensation for the cost of civil war.

1649-53

Commonwealth: The Irish parliament is abolished and instead Ireland, along with Scotland and England, sent representatives to a Commonwealth Parliament in London.

1660

Restoration: The Stuart monarchy is restored, the Commonwealth abolished and the Irish parliament reconvened the following year.

1720

Constitutional affairs: Following a legal dispute, the British Parliament reasserted its right to form the final court of appeal and to legislate on Irish matters.

1728

Disenfranchised: Catholics in Ireland prevented from voting or sitting in Parliament.

1779-80

Trade reforms: The British Parliament repealed most legislation restricting Irish commerce.

1782

Irish parliament: The Irish parliament won the exclusive right to legislate on Irish affairs and form the final court of appeal.

1801

Parliamentary union: An Act of Union merged the Irish parliament with the British Parliament to create a Parliament of the United Kingdom.

1829

Emancipation: Catholics in Ireland regained the right to vote and sit in Parliament.

1845-52

Great Famine: How Parliament dealt with the failure of Ireland's potato crop and its consequences.

1869

Disestablishment: Parliament passed legislation to break the link between church and state in Ireland.

1870

Land reform: Gladstone attempts to legislate for land reform in Ireland.

1886

Home rule Attempt I: Parliament considered Gladstone's first home rule Bill, splitting his Liberal Party.

1893

Home rule Attempt II: Parliament rejected Gladstone's second home rule Bill.

1914

Home rule Attempt III: A third home rule Bill failed on the eve of the First World War.

1920

Government of Ireland: Parliament legislated to create two home rule parliaments, one in Northern Ireland and another in Southern Ireland.

1949

Irish Republic: Parliament endorsed a decision by the Irish Free State to become a Republic.

1972

Direct rule: Parliament asserted direct control over Northern Ireland following rising violence.

1998

Good Friday Agreement: The cross-party Good Friday Agreement repealed the Government of Ireland Act 1920 and restored devolved government to Northern Ireland.