Northern Ireland Devolution Flashcards
Examples of Unionist and Republicans failing to work together in Stormont
2002 - 2007
2017 - 2020
The Troubles lasted for how long ?
The Troubles were a conflict in NI that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998.
What did unionists & loyalists want?
Unionists & loyalists - mostly protestants wanted NI to remain within the UK
What did Irish nationalists & republicans want ?
Irish nationalists & republicans who were mostly Irish Catholics wanted NI to leave the UK & join a united Ireland. IRA VS British army.
The Good Friday Agreement
1998 Good Friday agreement - major step in the peace process
1998 Blair negotiated a power-sharing assembly that would fairly represent both unionist and nationalist sentiment.
May 1998, the Agreement was strongly enclosed by the people of NI and the Republic of Ireland in 2 separate referendums.
This included police reform, paramilitary disarmament & early release of paramilitary prisoners, followed by demilitarisation.
What electoral system does NI have now ?
NI Assembly in Stormont elected by the Single Transferable Vote (STV), giving the electorate as much choice as possible & make it more difficult for 1 party to dominate
Executive of NI
Made by the leader of the largest party as the 1st minister, leader of the 2nd largest party as the deputy 1st minister to ensure stability.
They have equal powers, if 1 resigns the other must also resign so there is pressure to work together.
Primary legislation powers given?
Education, agriculture, transport, policing, housing, health, environment
Bills
2011 - 2016 the assembly passed 67 bills, example:
Human Trafficking act 2015 - prevent human trafficking in NI & provide support to victims
Addressing bullying in schools act 2016 - legal definition of bullying & requires schools to have robust policies on it
Devolution power
Devolution in NI is INSEPARABLE from the PEACE PROCESS, so if unionists & nationalists can work together in a devolved assembly this will stop NI from reverting to SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.
Measuring devolution success in NI is different then S & W because political violence has been resolved by devolution
Power-sharing
In Stormont power - sharing often breaks down - NI Assembly has operated with several interruptions & suspensions e.g 2017-2020
NI Backstop - Irish Sea
The Republic of Ireland remains in the EU, NI left the EU
NI Backstop - Trade in goods
The NI remains in the EU single market for goods, this allows the maintenance of the open border NI & the Republic of Ireland which was a key process if the Good Friday Agreement
NI Backstop - Unionists opinion
Unionist party opposes the idea as they argue it undermines their place in the UK
