The
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the head of the Government of
Northern Ireland, appointed by the
Governor of Northern Ireland[?] under the
Government of Ireland Act, 1920. The system of government created by the Act, of a bicameral legislature, with a majoritarian system of home rule, was abolished in 1972.
The Prime Ministers of Northern Ireland were:
- Sir James Craig (1921-40) [later created Lord Craigavon]
- John Millar Andrews (1940-43)
- Sir Basil Brooke (1943-63) [later created Lord brookeborough]
- Terence O'Neill (1963-69) [later created Lord O'Neill of the Maine]
- James Chichester Clarke (1969-71) [later created Lord Moyola]
- Brian Faulkner (1971-72) [later created Lord Faulkner].
A new office, First Minister of Northern Ireland[?] was created by the Belfast Agreement. In contrast with the majoritarianism of the earlier Stormont regime, the new power-sharing assembly operates on the principles of consociational democracy.