Northern Ireland: The Anglo-Irish Agreement Flashcards
(18 cards)
Why was the Anglo-Irish Agreement made
Sinn Fein rise in power causing London and Dublin Gov to work closer together.
When was the Anglo-Irish Agreement signed
15th November 1985 by PM Margaret Thatcher and Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald
Reasons for the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement for the British
British knew nationalist hostility to them would have to be removed if troubles were to end
Reasons for the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement for the Irish
Believed if nationalist hostility towards British ended, support for Sinn Fein and PIRA campaign would disappear
What were the key terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Intergovernmental conference would work to improve cooperation between North and South of Ireland
Permanent secretariat staffed by civil servants from Belfast and Dublin would help conference
Until there was a power sharing agreement, no further attempt to introduce devolution in NI
Dublin would have an input in how NI was run. The Irish government agreed that unity would only happen with a majority support of people in NI.
Who would chair the Intergovernmental Conference set up as part of the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Irish Foreign Minister and Secretary of State for NI
What issues would the Intergovernmental Conference look after
Security
Law
Politics
The unionist reaction of Anglo-Irish Agreement in NI
Unionist population reacted badly.
Felt betrayed by Thatcher’s Government and felt that they would end up having to join a united Ireland
However pro-union Alliance party was more positive about it
Nationalist reaction of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in NI
SDLP most pleased about it.
SDLP believed agreement could allow unionists and nationalists to live together in peace
Republican reaction of the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Agreement rejected by Sinn Fein
Republicans argued by recognising existence of NI, Dublin government had made partition more permanent
Republic of Ireland reaction of the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Fine Gael/ Labour Government welcomed agreement
Fianna Fail - condemmed the deal - main concern was Irish Governments acceptance of British right to be in NI
Senator Mary Robison a key member of Governing labour party also opposed the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Resigned from the party in support of unionist opposition
Within Great Britain reaction of the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Easily passed by Westminster Parliament
Ian Gow, Minister in treasury department wasn’t happy and resigned in protest ast the agreement and claimed only been agreed due to pressure of paramilitary violence
What groups were in support of the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Pro-Union Alliance Party
SDLP
Republics fine gael/Labour Government
Westminster Parliament
What groups were in opposition of the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Unionist Population
Sinn Fein
Republicans
Senator Mary Robinson a key figure in Labour Party
Ian Gow
Fianna Fail
What was the Unionists campaign of opposition
Series of protests against the Anglo-Irish Agreement
What events were included in the Campaign of Opposition and where they effective
Protest marches across NI (Not effective, made violence worse)
Rally opposing agreement, 23rd November 1985 attended by over 100,000 people (Showed dissatisfaction but didn’t achieve any lasting change)
Day of action held on 3rd March 1986. Peaceful protest but in few places ended in violence. Event brought most of NI to a standstill (made impact but only lasted day)
Campaign of Civil Disobedience which included unionist MPs refusing to attend Westminster and other things (Barley noticed that the NI MPs weren’t attending by 1987 Unionists had to talk to the PM again)
Resignation by all 15 unionists MPs of membership of Westminster Parliament, meant new elections had to be held for these 15 constituencies, meant to show unionist support (did win 420,000 votes in the election sowing depth of unionist opposition how ever did lose a seat to the SDLP in Newry and Armagh)
How did Loyalist Paramilitaries show opposition to Anglo-Irish Agreement
Trying to fight members of RUC
Setting up a new paramilitary organisation Ulster Resistance to oppose the Agreement
Results of the Unionist Campaign of Opposition
While unionist candidates won over 420,000 votes in the by-elections that followed the resignation of their Westminster seats, one seat (Newry and Armagh) was won by the SDLP.
The Westminster Parliament was so big (with 650 MPs) that the non-attendance of 14 unionist MPs was not really noticed.
As local councils within Northern Ireland had little or no power as things stood, their refusal to use their ‘powers’ made no difference to how Northern Ireland was run.
By September 1987, when the unionist leaders agreed to talk to British ministers again, it was clear that the campaign to destroy the agreement had failed.
