STATUTE (IRELAND). In Ireland, the method by which the early irregular convocations, called Parliaments, passed their acts, appears to have been a close imitation of the English practice. The authenticated printed statutes begin in the year 1310-3 Edw. II. After five short acts of this parliament there is a hiatus until the year 1429, although it is known in history that repeated par liaments were held in the interval. Many of these statutes are character istic indications of the state of the country, and throw light on the domina tion of the English over the natives— e. g., the 25 Hen. VI. c. 4, 'An Act, that he that will be taken for an English man, shall not use a Beard upon his upper Lip alone ; the Offender shall be taken as an Irish Enemy :' 28 Hen. VI. c. 3, An Act, that it shall be lawful for every Liegeman to kill or take notorious Thieves, and Thieves found 'ribbing, spoiling, or breaking Houses, or taken with the manner:' and in later times (the 7 Wm. III. c. 21), ' An Act for the better suppressing Tories, Robbers, and Rapparees ; and for preventing Rob beries, Burglaries, and other heinous Crimes.' The Statute of Drogheda, commonly called Poyning's Law, passed in 1495 (10 Hen. VII.), had a marked influence on the later legislation and con stitutional history of Ireland. By chap. 22
it was enacted, that all the acts then or late passed in England, " concerning or belonging to the common and public weal of the same," should be law in Ireland. By chap. 4 it was provided, that no par liament should afterwards be held in Ireland until the lord-lieutenant and council had certified the king of the causes and considerations for holding it, and of the acts proposed to be passed at it, and a licence had been obtained from England accordingly. Thus no measure could be proposed for the adoption of par liament until it had first received the royal assent in England. It is believed that this badge of servitude prevented the passing of many exterminating acts, which, in times of anarchy, discord, or tyranny, the Irish ministry, and their partisan-parlia ments, would have readily passed. This act was repealed, and the independence of the Irish legislature restored by the cele brated measure of 1783. By the Act of Union, in 1800, the Irish Parliament was merged ie the United Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland. PARLIAMENT OF IRELAND.