Direct rule and the governance of Northern Ireland / Derek Birrell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Birrell, Derek.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Central-local government relations.

Northern Ireland--Politics and government--1968-1998.

Northern Ireland.

Politics and government.

Northern Ireland--Politics and government--1998-.

Central-local government relations--Northern Ireland.

Physical Description:

xii, 274 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press ; New York : distributed in the United States exclusively by Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

Summary:

This is the first comprehensive study of direct rule as the system of governance which operated in Northern Ireland for most of the period between 1972 and 2007. The major institutions of governance are described and examined in detail, including the often neglected sectors of the role of the Westminster parliament, the civil service, local government, quangos, ombudsmen offices, cross-border structures and the public expenditure process.

The book explains how the complex system covering transferred, reserved and excepted functions worked and provided viable governance despite political violence, constitutional conflict and political party disagreements. In addition, a comparison is drawn between direct rule and devolution, analysing both the positive and negative impact of direct rule, as well as identifying where there has been minimal divergence in processes and outcomes. It will prove an invaluable reference source on direct rule and provide a comparative basis for assessing devolution for students of public administration, government, politics, public policy and devolution.

Contents:

1 Introduction 1

2 The constitutional framework 6

3 The Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland ministers 21

4 Northern Ireland business in the Westminster Parliament 40

5 The Civil Service: a continuing institution 69

6 The use of quangos 102

7 The role of local government 120

8 Finance and public expenditure 143

9 Cross-border cooperation and British-Irish institutions 167

10 Ombudsmen, commissioners and complaints 197

11 Policy-making under direct rule 229

12 Conclusions 242.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [248]-269) and index.

ISBN:

9780719077579

0719077575

OCLC:

313645239