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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2016
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The Irish executive during the nineteenth century resembled the imperial double-headed eagle, or even occasionally Cerberus. For the control of the Irish administration was shared between the lord lieutenant and the chief secretary. Of course, theoretically the latter was merely the assistant of the former. In fact they formed a (frequently uneasy) partnership, and, as will be shown, throughout the century the chief secretary's political importance tended to increase largely at the expense of his nominal superior, though admittedly the exact balance of power between the two offices tended to, fluctuate in accordance with the personalities of their holders. Finally, in the absence from Ireland of the chief secretary, a strong undersecretary could exercise power out of proportion to his place in the administrative hierarchy.
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References
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