KEY QUESTION KEY QUESTION: What was agreed in the Good Friday Agreement?

This created an optimism and uneasy level of trust to try to reach an agreement.

What sort of Assembly? What about Prisoners? What about Terrorist weapons? Links with the Republic of Ireland / UK ? RUC reform?RUC Referendum on the terms?

The Good Friday Agreement was signed in It was a landmark multi party agreement aimed at establishing a new, devolved, power sharing Northern Ireland Assembly

The agreement took years of painstaking negotiations and was very carefully designed to accommodate both Nationalist and Unionist opinion. Any agreement had to fulfil 3 Roles:Any agreement had to fulfil 3 Roles: 1.It had to determine an acceptable form of Power-sharing in which both communities would be fairly and proportionally represented 2.Define an acceptable Role for the Republic of Ireland 3.Retain and Legitimise the link with Britain

THREE STRANDSThe agreement had THREE STRANDS

Northern Ireland AssemblyElection of Northern Ireland Assembly 108 MLA’s108 MLA’s (Member of the Legislative assembly) STV (PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION) CONSTITUENCYElected by STV (Single Transferrable Vote) A form of PR (PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION) based on a CONSTITUENCY EXECUTIVEMinisterial Positions in the EXECUTIVE Committee were to be based on the Electoral strength of the Parties.

Articles 2 & 3 of the Irish ConstitutionThe Irish Government dropped their claims to Northern Ireland stated in Articles 2 & 3 of the Irish Constitution This helped settle Unionist fears North South Ministerial CouncilNorth South Ministerial Council established – to Co Ordinate & co operate on policy N S

British Irish Council (BIC)The British Irish Council (BIC) or Council of the Isles showing commitment on British connection ‘Consent’ was a major foundation of the Agreement helping to dampen Unionist fears EW

Many prisoners are released ‘On Licence’ as part of the Agreement This angers many Unionists especially when new intimidation and terrorist activity re-occur

Patten Commission led by last Governor of Hong Kong recommends huge changePatten Commission led by last Governor of Hong Kong recommends huge change Recruitment is to be proportionalRecruitment is to be proportional Name is to change to PSNIName is to change to PSNI Badge is also to be droppedBadge is also to be dropped RUC is given the George Cross medal to help heal the hurt RUC is given the George Cross medal to help heal the hurt

A huge problem to be overcomeA huge problem to be overcome An independent Arms Review Body was set up under American Senator George Mitchell to get rid of IRA (and potentially Loyalist) weaponsAn independent Arms Review Body was set up under American Senator George Mitchell to get rid of IRA (and potentially Loyalist) weapons

In 1998 the public of N.Ireland and the ROI were allowed to have their say on the Agreement in a Referendum. (A vote based on an issue) 71% Yes vote for GFA 71% Yes vote for GFA (81% turnout) (81% turnout) Slim majority of unionists & large majority of nationalists backed referendum