New Labour, New Century 2001-7: 5 Tony Blair and Ireland

Question 1

how did 9/11 aid the peace process? (also London bombings of 2005)

Answer 1

many Irish-Americans who had previously given support to the IRA campaigns now had a graphic example of what terrorism looks like
–> talks for a peaceful resolution

Question 2

what did the IRA announce on 28 July 2005?

Answer 2

it would remain a force committed to defend nationalist Ulster but would give up its weapons and pledge itself to the us of ‘exclusively peaceful means’

Question 3

how did demography (population analysis) force politicians (e.g. Ian Paisley of DUP) to accept a political solution?

Answer 3

population of Catholics was rising whilst Protestant population was decreasing
Catholics - 1961 35% to 2001 40%
Protestants - 1961 63% to 2001 45%

Question 4

what did the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) renounce in May 2006?

Answer 4

renounced violence and pledged itself to give up its weapons

Question 5

what did the St Andrews Agreement October 2006 do?

Answer 5

• NI Assembly was restored
• DUP agreed to share power with republicans and nationalists in the Northern Ireland Executive
• Sinn Fein accepted the authority of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) which had replaced the RUC

Question 6

how did the 4 main Irish parties perform in the March 2007 elections?

Answer 6

DUP - 36
Sinn Fein - 28
Official Unionists - 18
SDLP - 16

Question 7

what did the British army announce in July 2007?

Answer 7

the end o fits operation in NI running since 1969

Question 8

was the Northern Ireland Executive successful?

Answer 8

Ian Paisley (DUP) leader with Martin McGuiness (Sinn Fein) as first minister
extraordinary climax after 30 years of intensely bitter rivalry - amicable relations developed e.g. between Paisley and McGuiness