The Renunciation Act

THE RENUNCIATION ACT

1783

In the Declaratory Act of 1719 the British parliament had asserted the right to legislate for Ireland. Repeal of that act was part of the constitutional settlement of 1782. During the following year, in response to continuing Patriot complaints that repeal of offensive legislation was not abandonment of the claims made therein, the British parliament went further and renounced the right to make laws binding on Ireland.

AN ACT FOR PREVENTING AND REMOVING ALL DOUBTS WHICH HAVE ARISEN, OR MIGHT ARISE, CONCERNING THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS OF THE PARLIAMENT AND COURTS OF IRELAND, IN MATTERS OF LEGISLATION AND JUDICATURE; AND FOR PREVENTING ANY WRIT OF ERROR OR APPEAL FROM ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S COURTS IN THAT KINGDOM FROM BEING RECEIVED, HEARD AND ADJUDGED, IN ANY OF HIS MAJESTY'S COURTS IN THE KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN

Whereas, by an act of the last session of the present parliament, entitled An act to repeal an act made in the sixth year of his late majesty, King George the first, entitled, An act for the better securing the dependency of the kingdom of Ireland upon the Crown of Great Britain, it was enacted, that the last mentioned act, and all the matters and things therein contained, should be repealed: And whereas doubts have arisen whether the provisions of the said act are sufficient to secure to the people of Ireland the rights claimed by them to be bound only by laws enacted by his majesty and the parliament of that kingdom, in all cases whatever, and to have all actions and suits at law or in equity, which may be instituted in that kingdom, decided in his majesty's courts therein finally, and without appeal from thence: therefore, for removing all doubts respecting the same, . . . be it declared and enacted . . . that the said right claimed by the people of Ireland, to be bound only by laws enacted by his majesty and the parliament of that kingdom, in all cases whatever, and to have all actions and suits at law or in equity, which may be instituted in that kingdom, decided in his majesty's courts therein finally, and without appeal from thence, shall be, and is hereby declared to be established and ascertained for ever, and shall at no time hereafter be questioned or questionable.

II. And be it further enacted . . . that no writ of error or appeal shall be received or adjudged, or any other proceeding be had by or in any of his majesty's courts in this kingdom, in any action or suit at law or in equity, instituted in any of his majesty's courts in the kingdom of Ireland; and that all such writs, appeals or proceedings, shall be, and they are hereby declared, null and void to all intents and purposes; and that all records, transcripts of records or proceedings, which have been transmitted from Ireland to Great Britain, by virtue of any writ of error or appeal, and upon which no judgment has been given or decree pronounced before the first day of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, shall, upon application made by or in behalf of the party in whose favour judgment was given or decree pronounced, in Ireland, be delivered to such party, or any person by him authorised to apply for and receive the same.

THE STATUTES AT LARGE OF ENGLAND AND OF GREAT-BRITAIN: FROM MAGNA CARTA TO THE UNION OF THE KINGDOMS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND (1811), vol. 8, p. 226.