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THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT 1998

THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT 1998. AS1. KEY QUESTION : What was agreed in the Good Friday Agreement?. 1994 IRA ceasefire. This created an optimism and uneasy level of trust to try to reach an agreement. There were many issues to be agreed:. What sort of Assembly? What about Prisoners?

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THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT 1998

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  1. THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT 1998 AS1 • KEY QUESTION: • What was agreed in the Good Friday Agreement?

  2. 1994 IRA ceasefire • This created an optimism and uneasy level of trust to try to reach an agreement.

  3. There were many issues to be agreed: • What sort of Assembly? • What about Prisoners? • What about Terrorist weapons? • Links with the Republic of Ireland / UK ? • RUC reform? • Referendum on the terms?

  4. Background • The Good Friday Agreementwas signed in 1998. • It was a landmark multi party agreement aimed at establishing a new, devolved, power sharing Northern Ireland Assembly

  5. 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 Roles: • It had to determine an acceptable form of Power-sharing in which both communities would be fairly and proportionally represented • Define an acceptable Role for the Republic of Ireland • Retain and Legitimise the link with Britain

  6. WHAT WAS AGREED? • The agreement had THREE STRANDS

  7. 1. Acceptable form of Power sharing • Election of Northern Ireland Assembly • 108 MLA’s (Member of the Legislative assembly) • Elected by STV (Single Transferrable Vote) A form of PR (PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION) based on a CONSTITUENCY • Ministerial Positions in the EXECUTIVE Committee were to be based on the Electoral strength of the Parties.

  8. 2. Links with the Republic of Ireland N • The Irish Government dropped their claims to Northern Ireland stated in Articles 2 & 3 of the Irish Constitution • This helped settle Unionist fears • North South Ministerial Council established – to Co Ordinate & co operate on policy S Unionist content Nationalist content

  9. 3. Links with Britain • The 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 W E Unionist content

  10. AS1 Other Issues

  11. Prisoner Release Programme • Many prisoners are released ‘On Licence’ as part of the Agreement • This angers many Unionists especially when new intimidation and terrorist activity re-occur

  12. RUC REFORM • Patten Commission led by last Governor of Hong Kong recommends huge change • Recruitment is to be proportional • Name is to change to PSNI • Badge is also to be dropped • RUC is given the George Cross medal to help heal the hurt

  13. ARMS DECOMMISIONING • A huge problem to be overcome • An independent Arms Review Body was set up under American Senator George Mitchell to get rid of IRA (and potentially Loyalist) weapons

  14. THE NEXT STEPS..

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

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