UNIT 9: Closer Coopeation Flashcards
Give the reasons for closer cooperation between the Irish and British governments in the 1980s:
-Fear that Sinn Fein might overtake the SDLP and become the main nationalist party in NI
-The BG also realised it needed better relations with the nationalist minority in Northern Ireland, or the security situation would not improve.
-The BPM, Thatcher, was almost killed by an IRA bomb in Brighton in 1984 at the Conservative Party Conference
-The Taoiseach, Garret Fitzgerald, believed that reduced nationalist alienation and reform of the security forces in NI would undermine the toleration of the nationalist minority for the IRA.
-The SDLP ought the help of the Dublin government and persuaded them to hold a conference o discuss the future of Ireland. In the summer of 1983, the New Ireland Forum met in Dublin and was attended by the SDLP and main nationalist parties in the Republic. Sinn Fein was not invited and the British Government & unionists refused to attend. In May 1984, the New Ireland Forum suggested three possible ways forward for Irland’s future; all of which were rejected by Thatcher.
Gve the terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement:
The Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985
• Following the Brighton bombing of the Conservative Party Conference in
October 1984, secret meetings took place between the British and Irish
governments and a year later the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed by the
British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and the Irish Taoiseach (Prime
Minister) at Hillsborough Castle on 15 November 1985
• The British government recognised the Republic’s right to make proposals on
matters relating to Northern Ireland
• The Republic recognised a united Ireland was a long-term aim which would
only come about with the approval of the majority in Northern Ireland
• Both governments agreed to try to make Northern Ireland a place where
everyone could live in peace, free from discrimination and intolerance
• Both governments agreed to an inter-governmental conference, which
would meet regularly to discuss political, legal, security matters and improving
cross-border co-operation. This was to be headed by the Secretary of State
and the Irish Foreign Minister
• A permanent secretariat made up of northern and southern civil servants
would provide administrative support to the conference
• Devolution would only occur if there was agreement on the sharing of power
• The Agreement was to be reviewed after three years, or earlier, if either
government requested it
• On 21 November 1985 the Irish Parliament in Dublin, the Dail, approved the
Anglo-Irish Agreement and six days later, the House of Commons at
Westminster also approved it
Give the unionist reactions to the Anglo-Irish Agreement:
• Unionists felt they had been abandoned by their own government and that
Dublin had been given a direct say in the government of their country
• Unionists believed that this was a process that would lead to a united Ireland
• Unionists were angry that they had not been consulted – the meetings to draft
the deal had taken place in secret and called it the “Dublin Diktat” while it
appeared the SDLP had been consulted
• Unionists felt betrayed by Margaret Thatcher, whom they had believed to be
on their side after the Hunger Strikes and New Ireland Forum
• The fact that all the Ulster Unionist MPs were opposed to the Agreement was
ignored
• Only the Alliance Party did not condemn the agreement outright
Give the unionist actions to the Anglo-Irish Agreement:
• A huge protest rally was held at Belfast’s City Hall on 23 November 1985.
At estimated 100, 000 attended where they were addressed by OUP leader,
James Molyneaux and the DUP leader, the Reverend Ian Paisley
• All 15 unionist MPs resigned their Westminster seats on 17 December 1985
• The “Ulster Says No” campaign – including a Day of Action – took place on 3
March 1986. Much of Northern Ireland was brought to a standstill, using
largely peaceful protest
• Bonfires burned effigies of Margaret Thatcher and of leading members of
the Irish government including the Irish Foreign Minister, Peter Barry.
Slogans appeared in loyalist areas criticising Margaret Thatcher and the RUC
• A campaign of civil disobedience was begun, involving measures like the
shunning of British ministers and the refusal to set rates in unionist council
areas.
• Marches took place to the new headquarters of the Anglo-Irish Secretariat
in Maryfield
• There were loyalist attacks on the RUC in 1986 and 1987, when it seemed
as if the non-violent campaign was getting nowhere
• In November 1986, Ulster Resistance, a paramilitary organisation whose
aim was the destruction of the agreement was formed
• The Alliance Party supported the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Give the nationalist attitudes to the Anglo-Irish Agreement:
• The SDLP supported the Anglo-Irish Agreement, seeing it as a chance for peace and
progress
• The SDLP welcomed the fact that they had been given more of a role in the creation
of the Agreement than any other party in Northern Ireland
• The SDLP hoped the Agreement would bring an increased role for the Republic of
Ireland in the affairs of Northern Ireland
• Sinn Féin believed it reinforced partition. In the Agreement, the Republic of
Ireland’s government accepted that a united Ireland was a long-term aim, which
would only come about with the consent of the majority in Northern Ireland, thereby
recognising the existence of Northern Ireland
• Sinn Féin realised it was an attempt to weaken them and the IRA continued their
campaign of violence
• Many nationalists were unenthusiastic. They preferred to wait and see before
expressing whether they supported the Agreement or not
What was the significance of the Anglo-Irish Agreement for relations between Britain Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland?
• First formal role for Republic of Ireland in Northern Ireland’s affairs via Intergovernmental Conference.
• Aimed to improve UK-Irish cooperation, especially on security and political issues.
• British sovereignty in Northern Ireland remained unchanged.
• Strong Unionist opposition, seeing it as a threat to the Union and a step toward a united Ireland.
• Nationalist support, as it acknowledged their identity and concerns.
• Helped improve Anglo-Irish relations after years of tension.
• Laid foundations for the peace process, influencing the later Good Friday Agreement (1998).
What was the significance of the Anglo-Irish Agreement for how Northern Ireland would be governed?
• Confirmed British sovereignty over Northern Ireland, but allowed for future change if a majority there wanted it.
• Introduced input from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland’s affairs through the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
• Gave the Irish government an advisory role, especially on issues like policing, justice, and minority rights.
• No direct power was given to the Republic over Northern Ireland’s government — Britain still had full control.
• Aimed to encourage power-sharing and political reform, though it didn’t restore devolved government immediately.
• Highlighted the need to consider both communities’ views (Unionist and Nationalist) in governance.
• Set a precedent for cross-border cooperation and eventual joint decision-making seen later in the Good Friday Agreement.
What year was the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
1985
Who was Garret Fitzgerald?
Taoiseach during Anglo-Irish Agreement
Who was Mary Robinson?
A prominent Irish Labour Party Senator, Mary Robinson, resigned from her party because the agreement was unacceptable to the unionist community
What were the 3 key terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
• The establishment of an intergovernmental conference, dealing with issues such as security, legal matters, political questions and improving cross-border co-operation.
• A permanent secretariat made up of northern and southern civil servants to provide administrative support to the conference.
• Devolution would only occur if there was agreement on the sharing of power.
When and where was the IRA’s attempt to kill Thatcher?
During 1984 at the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton
What did the two governments hope would happen as a result of the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
Britain hoped that the agreement would lead to better security and co-operation, while Dublin hoped to persuade nationalists to accept the Northern Ireland state. Dublin believed that if this happened, support for Sinn Féin would collapse.
Who didn’t condemn the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
The Alliance Party
What were the Irish Parties’ reactions to the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
While the agreement was clearly acceptable to the Fine Gael and Labour parties that made up the Republic’s coalition government, the Fianna Fail opposition party led by Charles Haughey condemned it. Like Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil was
dismayed at Dublin’s recognition of Britain’s right to be in Northern Ireland. A prominent Irish Labour Party Senator, Mary Robinson, resigned from her party because the agreement was unacceptable to the unionist community
Describe the unionist protest held in response to the AIA:
A huge protest rally was held at Belfast’s City Hall on 23 November 1985, attended by an estimated 100,000 people. (Some historians put the figure as high as 250,000.) The crowd was addressed by the OUP leader, James Molyneaux, and the DUP leader, Rev. Ian Paisley.
At the protest at Belfast City Hall in November 1985, who addressed the crowd?
The OUP’s James Molyneaux and the DUP’s Ian Paisley
What figures are estimated for the November 1985 protest?
From 100 000-250 000
When was the protest led by Molyneaux and Paisley?
23rd November 1985
What were the unionist MPs reactions to the AIA? How did this impact Westminster?
All 15 unionist MPs resigned their seats at Westminster on 17 December but then stood for them again in the resulting by-elections. The aim was to show the strength of unionist opposition through the total number of votes the candidates received.
The results of these by-elections, held on 23 January 1986, were extremely interesting. The unionists gained a total of over 420,000 votes but lost one of their seats to the SDLP. Significantly, Sinn Féin’s share of the nationalist vote fell from nearly 42 per cent to just over 35 per cent. This suggested that one of the key aims of the architects of the agreement - the destruction of Sinn Féin - might be achievable.
By and large, however, these tactics failed to have any impact on the
of 14 MPs out of over 650 was not noticed at Westminster and since local
British government’s determination to stick by the agreement. The absence
councils had little power as it was, the refusal to use this power made little
or no difference. 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.
What was the result s of the protesting against the AIA?
By and large, however, these tactics failed to have any impact on the
of 14 MPs out of over 650 was not noticed at Westminster and since local
British government’s determination to stick by the agreement. The absence
councils had little power as it was, the refusal to use this power made little
or no difference. 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
What were the results of the by-elections after the AIA?
The results of these by-elections, held on 23 January 1986, were extremely interesting. The unionists gained a total of over 420,000 votes but lost one of their seats to the SDLP. Significantly, Sinn Féin’s share of the nationalist vote fell from nearly 42 per cent to just over 35 per cent. This suggested that one of the key aims of the architects of the agreement - the destruction of Sinn Féin - might be achievable
