The Central Board was a scheme proposed in the mid-1880s to provide for the devolution of some legislative powers from the Westminster Parliament in England to a proposed elected body (a board) in Ireland.[1] It was proposed to partially address the concerns of the Irish Home Rule movement. It was never pursued, and was superseded by the First Home Rule Bill in 1886.[2]
By the 1870s and 1880s, a struggle for reform of land ownership had taken center stage. While several Irish Land Acts were passed, there was still a call to create meaningful political structures which would have introduced a measure of self-government to Ireland. The form of these structures was a matter of division and debate.[3]
The "Central Board" scheme was a structure which was advocated by Joseph Chamberlain in 1884-1885.[4] This proposal would have offered a form of local government which it is argued would have fallen considerably short of legislative independence.[citation needed] The exact structure of the board was subject to negotiation, however it was proposed to the democratically elected county councils would, in turn, elect a national body with powers mainly over local government issues.[3] Chamberlain had received some support from the Catholic bishops. His contact with Charles Stewart Parnell was through Captain O'Shea, who led Chamberlain to believe that this would be acceptable as a final settlement.[5]
↑ Howard, C. H. D. (September 1953). "Joseph Chamberlain, Parnell and the Irish 'Central Board' Scheme, 1884-5". Irish Historical Studies. 8 (32). Cambridge University Press: 324–361. doi:10.1017/S002112140002753X. JSTOR30006195. S2CID159673246.