Northern Ireland A peace in progress ?

1921: Northern Ireland became a separate political entity, 20s – 60s: Ulster Unionist party in power, some dissent, ‘ a state of unstable equilibrium’ (p. 109, Collins) 1968: 1969 – marches, demonstrations,. 70s – 90s – violence, 1994: IRA cease-fire 1996: IRA attacks on Canary Wharf April : Good Friday Agreement, 22 May 1998: Referendums in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, June 1999: Assembly elections, David Trimble First Minister, Seamus Mallon Deputy First Minister 15 August 1998: bomb in Omagh, 28 people killed, 2 Dec 1999: Unionist and Sinn Fein enter into Executive

Parties and their politicians UUP PUP SDLP – DUP Sinn Fein Alliance Party

Stormont – seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly

Civil Rights: determined discrimination against Catholics Fairer system for allocation of public housing Extension of local government franchise from ‘householders’ (those who owned or rented houses) to ALL adults; the elimination of multiple voting rights based on ownership of property – one man one vote End to gerrymandering: this involved the manipulation of constituency geographical boundaries to ensure unionist domination in key local government areas Legislation to ensure fair and equal opportunities for all

Civil rights issues addressed Fair Employment Act: NI has the most forceful anti-discrimination legislation in Europe  Yet Catholics still more than twice as likely to be unemployed as Protestants Independent Housing Executive –  Housing stock improved, segregation of working- class areas on sectarian lines increased; middle- class housing generally remained integrated

The Good Friday Agreement Key provisions  Constitutional issues  Social Justice agenda  Guns bombs, policing and criminal justice

Constitutional issues Principle of consent: change in the status of N.I. as part of the UK can take place only with the consent of a majority of its people. Agreed legislative changes:  Repeal of he Government of Ireland Act claims British jurisdiction over the whole of the island of Ireland  Polls of people of N.I., seven years apart  Referendum in the Republic seek their endorsement of the Agreement, amendment of Articles of 2 and 3 to remove the ‘territorial claim’ over N. I.  Creation of North-South bodies

Different strands to the talks Strand 1 – structures in N.I. Strand 2 – N.I.’s relationship with the Republic Strand 3 – East-West relations; this intended to support unionist commitment to an older common ‘British Isles’ heritage

A new start?? 70% voted in favour in the North 90%+ voted in favour in the South Difficulties over ‘full implementation’ of the agreement