It was restricted for most of its existence in terms both of membership – Gaelic Irishmen were barred from membership – and of powers, notably by Poynings' Law of 1494, which required the approval of the English Privy Council before any draft bills might be introduced to the Parliament.
Det var stærkt indskrænket i det meste af dets levetid, både hvad angik medlemskab – gæliske medlemmer var udelukket – og magt, specielt Poynings lov, 1494, der krævede en godkendelse af det engelske gehejmeråd inden det kunne introduceres for det irske parlament.