KEY QUESTION KEY QUESTION: What was agreed in the Good Friday Agreement?

KEY QUESTIONKEY QUESTION:

•What was agreed in the Good Friday Agreement?

• This created an optimism and uneasy level of trust to try to reach an agreement.

• What sort of Assembly?

• What about Prisoners?

• What about Terrorist weapons?

• Links with the Republic of Ireland / UK ?

• RUC reform?

• Referendum on the terms?

• The Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998.

• It was a landmark multi party agreement aimed at establishing a new, devolved, power sharing Northern Ireland Assembly

• The agreement took years of painstaking negotiations and was very carefully designed to accommodate both Nationalist and Unionist opinion.

• Any agreement had to fulfil 3 Any agreement had to fulfil 3 Roles:Roles:

1. It had to determine an acceptable form of Power-sharing in which both communities would be fairly and proportionally represented

2. Define an acceptable Role for the Republic of Ireland

3. Retain and Legitimise the link with Britain

• The agreement had THREE STRANDSTHREE STRANDS

• Election of Northern Ireland AssemblyNorthern Ireland Assembly• 108 MLA’s108 MLA’s (Member of the Legislative

assembly)• Elected by STVSTV (Single Transferrable Vote)

A form of PR ((PROPORTIONAL PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION)REPRESENTATION) based on a CONSTITUENCYCONSTITUENCY

• Ministerial Positions in the EXECUTIVEEXECUTIVE Committee were to be based on the Electoral strength of the Parties.

• The Irish Government dropped their claims to Northern Ireland stated in Articles 2 & 3 of the Irish Articles 2 & 3 of the Irish ConstitutionConstitution

• This helped settle Unionist fears• North South Ministerial CouncilNorth South Ministerial Council

established – to Co Ordinate & co operate on policy

N

S

• The British Irish Council (BIC)British Irish Council (BIC) or Council of the Isles showing commitment on British connection

• ‘Consent’ was a major foundation of the Agreement helping to dampen Unionist fears

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• Many prisoners are released ‘On Licence’ as part of the Agreement

• This angers many Unionists especially when new intimidation and terrorist activity re-occur

•Patten CommissionPatten Commission led by last led by last Governor of Hong Kong Governor of Hong Kong recommends huge changerecommends huge change•RecruitmentRecruitment is to be is to be proportionalproportional•NameName is to change to PSNI is to change to PSNI•BadgeBadge is also to be dropped is also to be dropped• RUC is given the RUC is given the George CrossGeorge Cross medal to help heal the hurtmedal to help heal the hurt

•A huge problem to be A huge problem to be overcomeovercome•An An independent Arms independent Arms Review BodyReview Body was set up was set up under American Senator under American Senator George Mitchell to get George Mitchell to get rid of IRA (and rid of IRA (and potentially Loyalist) potentially Loyalist) weaponsweapons

In 1998 the public of N.Ireland In 1998 the public of N.Ireland and the ROI were allowed to have and the ROI were allowed to have their say on the Agreement in a their say on the Agreement in a Referendum. (A vote based on an Referendum. (A vote based on an issue)issue)• 71%71% Yes voteYes vote for GFA for GFA • (81%(81% turnout)turnout)Slim majority of unionists & large Slim majority of unionists & large majority of nationalists backed majority of nationalists backed referendumreferendum