John Bull's Other Island - Open Exam Notes "Peel and Police Reform in Ireland, 1814-18" by Tadhg Ó Ceallaigh, 25-48: · Early in the 19th century (1813) Peel, as Chief Sec for Ireland, decided it was necessary for the new legislation to be introduced which would strength the Irish government's hand in the face of unrest - he gave three reasons for the unrest: political combinations, local grievances and religious animosities. (25) Identifies second as most important. . Notes social/economic condition of the country as "sufficient to account for the new wave of ribandism" and the "peace preservation forces" already there couldn't deal with it. (25) · Argues that, whatever order was there, owed itself more to the "disproportionately large military force" rather than to the "various police establishments" - the army's primary job in Ireland was, not to fight a foreign enemy, but to perform police duties meaning it'd been split up to do so. (25) *A report on p. 2fi shows how they were split. . Was beginning to dawn that the size of the armed force presence there had to be reduced and this was alongside a general disenfranchisement of troops at being required to remain in the country. (2fi) · Ribandmen started to revive in 1812 - the failure of the potato crop from the previous year may have been one of the main factors. (2fi) · Checks were needed between potential Irish subversives and their communication with the Continent and later the US. (27-8) . The new police forces, to be introduced by the police legislation, were not intended to replace the existing constabulary but support them. (29) · Notes general English aversion to "anything resembling a gens d'armerie" (30) . "The solution of a national armed police force would be almost automatically negatived either in the Cabinet or in parliament" so, in the context of the time, it was "impossible" for Peel to establish an Irish gendarmerie. (31-2) It was to be the ultimate solution, but it only came with time. · Peel's Peace Preservation Act tried to keep it cheap, tried to avoid the stigma of central control as well as trying to spare both pride and pocket of local gentleman - no wonder, then, it had little success. (32) . Objections in parliament e.g. by Sir Fredrick Flood were largely based on the argument that the situation in Ireland (at least 4/5's) was "as tranquil as anywhere in England" so a new large force was unnecessary. (34) . The Peace Preservation Act was made up of about twenty sections (35) goes onto outline what some of them are. (35) · Gradual increasing opposition to Peel. (37) Again, largely based on the idea he was misrepresenting the Irish situation. (38) . Initially, the Peace Preservation Act and the costs that it incurred was rested on the shoulders of the local baronies in which it'd been applied, however it was found to be too great a burden to make it sustainable. This led to