Lord-lieutenant OF IRELAND, the viceroy or deputy of the sovereign to whom the government of Ireland is nominally committed. The office has existed from a remote period, the appointment having been made under different designations. The powers of the lord-deputy, as the viceroy was frequently called, were in early times very extensive, almost regal. In the latter part of the 18th century the lord-lieutenant resided little in Ireland, visiting it only once in two years, to hold the session of parliament. Some lords-lieutenant never went to Ireland at all, and occasionally, instead of a viceroy, lords justices (see JUSTICES, LORDS) were appointed. Since the Union the lord-lieutenant has constantly resided in Dublin.
The lord-lieutenant is appointed under the Great
Seal of the United Kingdom, and bears the sword of state as the symbol of his viceregal office. He has the assistance of a privy-council, at present consisting of fifty-five members, appointed by the sovereign, and of officers of state. He is commissioned to keep the peace and the laws and customs of Ireland, and to see that justice is impartially administered. He has the control of the police, and may issue orders to the general commanding the troops for the support of the civil authority, the protection of the public, the defence of the kingdom, and the suppression of insurrection. He is the Grand Master of the Order of St Patrick, and may himself confer simple knighthood; and, previous to the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland, had the disposal of much preferment, as well as all the other patronage of the country. The granting of money, lands, and pensions, of all titles of honour except simple knighthood, the appointment of privy-councillors, judges, law-officers, and governors of forts, and the appointment to military commissions are reserved to the sovereign, acting, however, on the lord-lieutenant's advice and recommendation. In recent years, more especially since his chief-secretary has been a member of the cabinet, the position of the lord-lieutenant has become little more than an 'ornamental' one; and the abolition of the office is now contemplated. A memorial signed by almost all the Irish peers was presented to Lord Salisbury in 1889 praying for such abolition, which had been actually arranged for, as long ago as 1848, by Lord John Russell, Lord Clarendon having accepted office in that year on the understanding that he was to be the last lord-lieutenant of Ireland. On the occasional or temporary absence from Ireland of the lord-lieutenant, lords justices are appointed, who are usually the Lord Chancellor, the Vice-chancellor, and the Commander of the Forces. The salary is £20,000, with a residence in Dublin Castle, as well as one in the Phoenix Park. His tenure of office depends on that of the ministry of which he is a member. By Act 10 Geo. IV. chap. 7, a Roman Catholic is ineligible for the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland. There have been over thirty-five lord-lieutenants since the Union.