Ireland Act

Ireland Act, 1949. Following the Irish Free State government's declaration of a republic in September 1948, the Act gave guarantees that the constitutional status of Northern Ireland would not be changed without the consent of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. That assurance has been reiterated at frequent intervals since 1969 although rephrased as: no change without the consent of a majority of the electorate. It has, however, never completely managed to reassure unionist opinion, constantly fearful of a British sell-out.