Why did the Power- Sharing Executive collapse?

Question 1

when was the agreement signed?

Answer 1

1973

Question 2

what would the agreement ultimately lead to?

Answer 2

the collapse of the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland

Question 3

after the suspension of Stormont, what did the Northern Ireland Office do?

Answer 3

published ‘The future of NI’ IN 1972

Question 4

What did ‘The future of NI’ propose?

Answer 4

a power-sharing government in which both nationalists and unionists communities would have a say in Northern Irish affairs

Question 5

what was the most controversial aspect of the agreement?

Answer 5

the addition of an “Irish dimension” in which the southern government would have some say in Northern affairs

Question 6

who’s government published the proposals recommending the devolved power sharing 78 member assembly in Northern Ireland

Answer 6

Ted Heath

Question 7

what did Ted Heath’s government publish?

Answer 7

proposals recommending the devolved power sharing 78 member assembly in Northern Ireland

Question 8

the final details of the proposals were hammered out between who?

Answer 8

the British and Irish governments, as well as the North’s main political leaders in December in Sunningdale

Question 9

what was agreed in Sunningdale?

Answer 9

that a council of Ireland would discuss matters of common concern between Northern and Southern states

Question 10

who opposed the agreement, despite initial support from some Unionists, including N.I P.M Brian Faulkner?

Answer 10

many hard-line unionists, including Ian Paisley and William Craig

Question 11

who formed the formidable alliance of the UUUC?

Answer 11

Ian Paisley and William Craig

Question 12

what escalated on both sides?

Answer 12

paramilitary violence

Question 13

what happened in May 1974?

Answer 13

bombs exploded in the centre of Dublin and Monaghan town

Question 14

how many people were killed as a result of the bombings?

Answer 14

33 people

Question 15

what did the bombings send?

Answer 15

a strong message to the south regarding opposition to the Council of Ireland

Question 16

what increased?

Answer 16

IRA violence

Question 17

where did the IRA bring their campaign to?

Answer 17

the UK

Question 18

what did the IRA do in the UK?

Answer 18

they bombed a coach on the M62 carrying british soldiers

Question 19

how many people were killed on the M62 coach bombing?

Answer 19

eight british soldiers and four civilians

Question 20

what did the UUUC do?

Answer 20

they put forward a candidate in each constituency during the British general election

Question 21

what was the British general election essentially?

Answer 21

a referendum on Sunningdale

Question 22

what was the UUUC’s slogan?

Answer 22

“Dublin is just a Sunningdale away”

Question 23

Hugh Logue’s statement that the Council of Ireland was:

Answer 23

“the vehicle that would trundle unionists into a unified Ireland”

Question 24

what did candidates opposed to the agreement win?

Answer 24

11 out of 12 seats

Question 25

what was ultimately the downfall of the power-sharing executive?

Answer 25

the Ulster Worker’s Council general strike

Question 26

what did the Ulster Worker’s Council strike include?

Answer 26

Protestant trade unionists backed up by loyalist paramilitaries

Question 27

what did the UWC control?

Answer 27

Northern Irish power stations

Question 28

what percentage of electricity was cut by the UWC?

Answer 28

60%

Question 29

what did the electricity being cut by 60% make impossible for factories to do?

Answer 29

operate

Question 30

who resigned as chief executive?

Answer 30

Brian Faulkner

Question 31

why did Faulkner resign?

Answer 31

refusal by secretary of state for Northern Ireland Merlyn Rees to face down representatives from the UWC

Question 32

what was the main reason for the collapse of Sunningdale?

Answer 32

Unionist resistance

Question 33

what were Unionists unwilling to accept?

Answer 33

anything less than the old Stormont parliament

Question 34

what did Unionists unwilling to accept anything less than the old Stormont parliament give the South?

Answer 34

a mere consultative role in the affairs of the North

Question 35

Nationalist Seamus Mallon later stated that the Sunningdale Agreement was the:

Answer 35

“Good Friday Agreement for slow learners”

Question 36

what would the controversial ideas that proved such controversy and violence eventually become?

Answer 36

the blueprint upon which the north was governed

Question 37

what was marked recently?

Answer 37

the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement