Why did the Power- Sharing Executive collapse? Flashcards
when was the agreement signed?
1973
what would the agreement ultimately lead to?
the collapse of the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland
after the suspension of Stormont, what did the Northern Ireland Office do?
published ‘The future of NI’ IN 1972
What did ‘The future of NI’ propose?
a power-sharing government in which both nationalists and unionists communities would have a say in Northern Irish affairs
what was the most controversial aspect of the agreement?
the addition of an “Irish dimension” in which the southern government would have some say in Northern affairs
who’s government published the proposals recommending the devolved power sharing 78 member assembly in Northern Ireland
Ted Heath
what did Ted Heath’s government publish?
proposals recommending the devolved power sharing 78 member assembly in Northern Ireland
the final details of the proposals were hammered out between who?
the British and Irish governments, as well as the North’s main political leaders in December in Sunningdale
what was agreed in Sunningdale?
that a council of Ireland would discuss matters of common concern between Northern and Southern states
who opposed the agreement, despite initial support from some Unionists, including N.I P.M Brian Faulkner?
many hard-line unionists, including Ian Paisley and William Craig
who formed the formidable alliance of the UUUC?
Ian Paisley and William Craig
what escalated on both sides?
paramilitary violence
what happened in May 1974?
bombs exploded in the centre of Dublin and Monaghan town
how many people were killed as a result of the bombings?
33 people
what did the bombings send?
a strong message to the south regarding opposition to the Council of Ireland
what increased?
IRA violence
where did the IRA bring their campaign to?
the UK
what did the IRA do in the UK?
they bombed a coach on the M62 carrying british soldiers
how many people were killed on the M62 coach bombing?
eight british soldiers and four civilians
what did the UUUC do?
they put forward a candidate in each constituency during the British general election
what was the British general election essentially?
a referendum on Sunningdale
what was the UUUC’s slogan?
“Dublin is just a Sunningdale away”
Hugh Logue’s statement that the Council of Ireland was:
“the vehicle that would trundle unionists into a unified Ireland”
what did candidates opposed to the agreement win?
11 out of 12 seats
what was ultimately the downfall of the power-sharing executive?
the Ulster Worker’s Council general strike
what did the Ulster Worker’s Council strike include?
Protestant trade unionists backed up by loyalist paramilitaries
what did the UWC control?
Northern Irish power stations
what percentage of electricity was cut by the UWC?
60%
what did the electricity being cut by 60% make impossible for factories to do?
operate
who resigned as chief executive?
Brian Faulkner
why did Faulkner resign?
refusal by secretary of state for Northern Ireland Merlyn Rees to face down representatives from the UWC
what was the main reason for the collapse of Sunningdale?
Unionist resistance
what were Unionists unwilling to accept?
anything less than the old Stormont parliament
what did Unionists unwilling to accept anything less than the old Stormont parliament give the South?
a mere consultative role in the affairs of the North
Nationalist Seamus Mallon later stated that the Sunningdale Agreement was the:
“Good Friday Agreement for slow learners”
what would the controversial ideas that proved such controversy and violence eventually become?
the blueprint upon which the north was governed
what was marked recently?
the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement
