Northern Ireland: Good Friday Agreement - 1998 Flashcards
Who won the May 1997 UK general election
Labour Government led b y Tony Blair
What did Tony Blair attempt to do
Get peace talks moving again.
Announced that if PIRA renewed ceasefire Sinn Fein could enter talks
When was the PIRA ceasefire renewed
20th July 1997
When did Sinn Fein enter peace talks
September 1997
What were the negotiations based around
Three strands;
Strand one focused on a new governmental structure for NI
Strand two concerned with relationships between two parts of Ireland
Strand three dealt with British-Irish relations
What commission was under chairmanship of Canadian General John de Chastelain
the Independent International commission on Decommissioning
When was the Good Friday Agreement Signed
Friday 10th April 1998
Who joined the Good Friday talks to get it over the line
Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern (leader of Ireland) and Bill Clinton (US president)
What were the outcome of strand one in the Good Friday Agreement
108 member assembly, elected by proportional representation with full legislative and executive authority over areas previously administrated by NI office
What were the outcome of strand two in the Good Friday Agreement
Created North-South Ministerial Council responsible for cross-border co-operation in a range of areas
What were the outcome of strand three in the Good Friday Agreement
Set up British-Irish council with members from all parliaments/assemblies within British Isles.
Purpose was to enable consultation and co-operation in range of areas
What were some elements of the Good Friday Agreement
Irish Gov agreed to renounce its constitutional claims to NI
British Government agreed to replace 1920 government of Ireland act
Also to be prisoner releases alongside paramilitary decommissioning
Unionist opposition to the Good Friday Agreement
DUP and UKUP didn’t come to the negotiating table
Public divisions emerging in UUP. Deputy leader Jeffery Donaldson walked out of negotiations just as they were nearing completion
6/10 UUP MPs against deal
in May all unionists in opposition to deal set up United Unionist Campaign
Nationalist opposition to the Good Friday Agreement
There were contrasting reactions within republicanism
At the end of April, the PIRA issued a statement saying the agreement “fell short of presenting a solid basis for a lasting settlement.”
The PIRA would not decommission any of its weapons
At the Sinn Fein party conference a few days later, the party leadership advised its members to support the deal
Sinn Fein politicians would take their seat in a new NI Assembly - this was significant as they previously abstained from what they saw as a ‘partitionist parliament.’
What were the results on the referendums held on both sides of the border on 22 May 1998
In NI 71.12% of those voted were in support for agreement
Overall turnout was 80.98%
97% of nationalists supported agreement whilst unionists were around 52%
In south 94.4% agreed with the agreement
When were elections for the New Assembly held
Late June 1998
Results of the elections for the New Assembly
The results seemed to suggest that a clear majority of members elected supported power-sharing (75% of the votes resulting in 80 out of 108 seats);
What did the elections for the New assembly not take in account
Not all of the 28 UUP members elected were in favour of the Agreement – even though the UUP was meant to be pro-Agreement.
The Agreement stated that certain decisions required majority support from both nationalist and unionist communities. Given the fine balance between pro- and anti-Agreement unionist support, that might be difficult to achieve.
Who were the First and Deputy First Ministers of the New Assembly
David Trimble UUP leader was First Minister
Seamus Mallon, SDLP Deputy-Leader was elected as Deputy First Minister
