One of the crucial elements you must understand thoroughly are the FIVE MILESTONE AGREEMENTS which have formed the foundation for our current political institutions in Northern Ireland.
These have come about through a series of highly intensive negotiations which have painstakingly pieced together the workings of the Northern Ireland Government.
These have come about through a series of highly intensive negotiations which have painstakingly pieced together the workings of the Northern Ireland Government.
You will be expected to know and understand each of Northern Ireland's THREE main political agreements. You should therefore be able to understand and analyze the key agreements made since 1998.
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BBC - Stormont House Agreement
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BBC Shared Future Agreement
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This part of the website will keep you informed of the main agreements and 2 of the 3 institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement. Be sure to look over this and thoroughly know and understand each agreement in detail. Use this website in tandem with your own research.
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After years of conflict and over 3,000 deaths, the slow process of making an agreed peace in Northern Ireland reached a milestone. In 1998 an agreement was signed with the aim of establishing an agreed future. This was known as the Good Friday (or Belfast) Agreement. This agreement is the backbone of the new Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive (Government) and as such it should be intensively researched.
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THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT IS SPLIT INTO 3 STRANDS: (Remember your compass !) |
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The GFA also had to deal with what was termed 'other issues' These issues were in fact the hardest issues to come to terms with and deal with. In reality the Agreement sorted out the three strands above - hoping that with time the 'other issues' would be sorted out. This was in fact a long and difficult process.
The 'other issues' were not strands BUT they contained the most contentious or controversial issues such as:
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What was especially important about the Good Friday Agreement was that the 'Other Issues' that were included almost as footnotes were perhaps the hardest to achieve and the most controversial.
The 3 institutions agreed in the GFA could be established relatively easily but the amount of trust and hard work needed to achieve progress on these other issues was immense. This would lead to huge problems for the first Assembly
The 3 institutions agreed in the GFA could be established relatively easily but the amount of trust and hard work needed to achieve progress on these other issues was immense. This would lead to huge problems for the first Assembly
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The issue of decommissioning - or lack of it - became a deeply divisive issue which contributed to the collapse of the NI Assembly. It would take until 2006 before IRA arms were eventually decommissioned - paving the way for the St Andrews Agreement and power sharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Documentary from 1999 tracking the RUC as it was and showing the debate around the Patten Report and how it affected the Police force at the time
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Mr Wishart's Resources to Download
There were THREE key institutions set up by the Good Friday Agreement - each related to one of the THREE strands agreed
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The 1st Strand dealt solely with Northern Ireland - setting up the Northern Ireland Assembly - We look at this in detail later.
You should really be aware of the other two - The NSMC and BIC |
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BACKGROUND
While the first strand of the Good Friday Agreement dealt with the Northern Ireland Assembly. Strand TWO was to deal with the relationship between NORTHERN IRELAND and the REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.
Nationalists and Republicans demanded a role for the Republic of Ireland in Northern Ireland's affairs. The North South Ministerial Council was set up to deal with issues that could be tackled much better by cross border cooperation. This has led to a changed relationship between North and South and has produced some valuable results.
Nationalists and Republicans demanded a role for the Republic of Ireland in Northern Ireland's affairs. The North South Ministerial Council was set up to deal with issues that could be tackled much better by cross border cooperation. This has led to a changed relationship between North and South and has produced some valuable results.
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 THE 12 AGREED 'SECTORS FOR CO-OPERATION'
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THE JOINT SECRETARIAT:
This is a permanent body meeting in Armagh. It contains civil servants from both sides of the border working together on areas of mutual benefit. MEETINGS Meetings take place throughout the year on different levels. PLENARY MEETINGS: These large meetings involve:
SECTORAL MEETINGS:
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Agriculture is highly important economically to both sides of the border. This agreed cooperation on Mutual Agricultural Policy issues
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Issues such as under achievement in young people, special needs or teacher pupil exchnges
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Cross border environmental protection, waste and water management.
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Co operation on Health promotions and use of expensive equipment and cancer care
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Instead of wasting money and creating confusion by promoting Ireland and Northern Ireland separately it was decided to try and promote Ireland internationally by 'Tourism Ireland'
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Co operation on transport strategies such as new roads and rail links - most noticeably in North South Motorway to Dublin
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In addition to intergovernmental cooperation the NSMC also has six permanent cross border bodies which implement policies and actions for the whole island of Ireland.
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This deals with promoting food safety across Ireland - you will have saw their adverts
'Safe food its in your hands' etc |
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This deals with shared waterways throughout Ireland for example promoting inland waterways - such as the Erne/Shannon boating link.
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This deals with trying to promote cross-border trade and aims to make the island of Ireland economically competitive.
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This was set up to promote the Irish and Ulster Scots languages.
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This was aimed at managing EU Peace funding for cross border projects to improve cooperation and strengthen communities
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This runs the lighthouses around Ireland's coastline
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A 15 YEAR ASSESSMENT
The NSMC has been in existence for over 25 years now and has made progress on a great deal of issues:
Despite successes there are remaining challenges.
- New Motorway links now connect Dublin and Belfast for the first time. Currently a £400 million scheme part financed by the Irish government aims to link a motorway with Derry. (This has ominously been put on hold by the recession ravaged Southern Government but may continue with improving economic conditions)
- Railway services have also been increased with a new early morning service between Dublin and Belfast. Investment has also been promised
- Inter-Trade Ireland has helped bring in foreign investment and jobs. Although this has been particularly challenged by the recession. Exporters in both sides of the border have continued to grow however.
- Economic problems have been discussed frequently. Investors from the Republic owned up to 10% of investments in Northern Ireland at one stage. When these turned toxic with the credit crunch the Republic introduced an agency called NAMA to help sell 'toxic' housing stock (houses that had been repossessed). The NI Executive were successful in preventing NAMA from selling off houses in Northern Ireland at once (as this would depress prices) They were instead sold off gradually and then to a US investment fund.
- Highly successful cross border advertisement campaigns have been introduced for Road safety and food safety. This saves money through sharing costs instead of duplication.
- The Erne - Shannon waterway is a major tourism success for Waterways Ireland. Thousands of tourists use it annually providing much needed funds to a beautiful but isolated part of Ireland
- Tourism Ireland has also promoted the island abroad which reduces costs.
- Crises such as Foot and Mouth outbreaks or swine flu are handled effectively on an all island basis.
- Medical care is shared in areas to make more economical sense. The North West is a good example with Donegal and Derry/ Londonderry sharing resources between Letterkenny and Altnagelvin (in Derry)
Despite successes there are remaining challenges.
- Nationalists want MORE cross border bodies or development of existing bodies.
- Unionists are against this and query the value for money for the present bodies.
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USEFUL WEB-LINKS |
MR WISHART'S POLITICS DOWNLOADS
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BACKGROUND
Essentially it was established from a Unionist request to try and establish a new and working relationship between the islands and regions of the British isles. It aims to promote cross border cooperation across the British isles.
WHICH COUNTRIES ARE IN THE BRITISH IRISH COUNCIL?
WHICH COUNTRIES ARE IN THE BRITISH IRISH COUNCIL?
- Northern Ireland
- Republic of Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
- Guernsey
- Jersey
- Isle of Man
- UK (Note: England is not represented individually as it does not have a devolved Government)
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FUNCTIONS & AIMS OF THE B.I.CThe 8 heads of Government meet TWICE a year to discuss issues of mutual concern and potential co-operation. Government departments often liaise together on certain areas of mutual concern.
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AREAS OF MUTUAL COOPERATION
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EFFECTIVENESS OF BIC?
The BIC has been a lot more muted in its progress than the NSMC. Some question its usefulness as a body. However there have been some areas of success
- A regional transportation strategy was devised to aid the growth and development of links
- Several areas of cooperation have been agreed to share costs.
- intelligence on drug traffiking has been strengthened and cooperated on.
- Successful policies between states are often discussed.
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** You should know both the POSITIVES and the CHALLENGES to the Good Friday agreement. **
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Source BBC
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ST ANDREWS AGREEMENT: BACKGROUND
The Good Friday Agreement was NOT the end of the peace process rather the beginning.
The GFA was a brand new political framework designed around a divided community emerging out of 30 years of conflict and centuries of mistrust. The Term PEACE PROCESS best describes political movements in Northern Ireland. Inevitably changes had to be made.
WHY DID THEY NEED ANOTHER AGREEMENT?
‘The St Andrews Agreement was not so much an agreement between the parties as an agreement on an agenda to move forward’ (R Wilford)
St Andrews was a balanced agreement where both sides had to significantly COMPROMISE. They had to agree to a new code of conduct as well as several new sets of rules which were aimed at correcting perceived weaknesses in the original Good Friday Agreement. It was an essential stepping stone to move forward.
The GFA was a brand new political framework designed around a divided community emerging out of 30 years of conflict and centuries of mistrust. The Term PEACE PROCESS best describes political movements in Northern Ireland. Inevitably changes had to be made.
WHY DID THEY NEED ANOTHER AGREEMENT?
- The Good Friday Agreement, despite its acceptance by wide sections of Northern Ireland society, had seemed to fail within a few months with suspension of the Assembly. This suspension would last up to 5 years.
- The St Andrews agreement was pieced together to provide a meaningful way forward. It aimed to get the NI Assembly back up and running. It also aimed at ending the divisions and problems which plagued the first Assembly.
- As such, St Andrews has been described like this:
‘The St Andrews Agreement was not so much an agreement between the parties as an agreement on an agenda to move forward’ (R Wilford)
St Andrews was a balanced agreement where both sides had to significantly COMPROMISE. They had to agree to a new code of conduct as well as several new sets of rules which were aimed at correcting perceived weaknesses in the original Good Friday Agreement. It was an essential stepping stone to move forward.
What was agreed at St Andrews?
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"The Final piece of the Jigsaw"
This is the last agreement. It was a small but crucial agreement to move forward with one of the last sections to be devolved - Policing and justice.
The HILLSBOROUGH AGREEMENT, was called 'the final piece of the jigsaw'
The contentious issue of Policing and Justice was devolved to the Assembly in return for a timid agreement on Parades
BACKGROUND
•Hillsborough was described as the ‘Last piece in the jigsaw’
•It was the transferring of Policing and Justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
•This had proved very controversial especially with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
The HILLSBOROUGH AGREEMENT, was called 'the final piece of the jigsaw'
The contentious issue of Policing and Justice was devolved to the Assembly in return for a timid agreement on Parades
BACKGROUND
•Hillsborough was described as the ‘Last piece in the jigsaw’
•It was the transferring of Policing and Justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
•This had proved very controversial especially with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
- The DUP feared a Sinn Fein Minister of justice (perhaps ex paramilitary) They feared the effect this may have on their electorate with the image that portrayed. They also feared what would happen during contentious marching.
- Sinn Fein in return feared a hard line DUP Minister of Justice. What would happen in terms of contentious marches?
- These difficulties made any agreement very hard to reach and almost led to the Assembly being suspended yet again.
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WAS HILLSBOROUGH A SUCCESS?
Unlike the other agreements Hillsborough is still fairly recent. However we can surmise a few things from it o far:
POSITIVES
POSITIVES
- The deal was firstly widely popular across Northern Ireland. The people wanted a deal and did not want another suspension which would have dented the image of the Assembly yet further.
- The appointment of an Alliance member has also been welcomed and supported.
- The devolution of powers has made the police and assembly more accountable
- The Assembly has faced numerous security challenges with the murder of Ronan Kerr, a catholic police constable. They have also faced riots in East Belfast. These have been dealt with.
- The accountability has for the first time brought politicians into the firing line for Justice issues - this could be seen to be positive too - David Ford was forced to apologize several times for prisoners getting released early.
- There also remains the fact that the Justice Minister was nominated by cross community vote (different from D'hondt) Is this a move away from the rules and if so is this fair?
- Could a non Alliance Minister of Justice ever be chosen? Is the Assembly mature enough?
Despite the previous three agreements, serious issues still remained unresolved in Northern Ireland. Some of these were creating major difficulties to political progress:
Finally on 23rd December 2014 the agreement was signed after 30 hours of negotiations
- Legacy of the Troubles and Victims rights
- Investigation into 'historical crimes' from the Troubles.
- Parades and Flags were still causing major issues and had led to serious public order protests (Flag protests)
- There was support for having corporation tax devolved from Westminster to make NI much more competitive,
- There was also serious financial pressures on the NI Executive with budget deficits and large fines being imposed for Welfare Reform not being introduced in NI. The issue of welfare reform seriously divided the executive parties with the SDLP and SF opposed and the unionist parties supporting it.
Finally on 23rd December 2014 the agreement was signed after 30 hours of negotiations
WAS THE STORMONT HOUSE AGREEMENT SUCCESSFUL?
The Stormont House agreement quickly unravelled into acrimonious disagreement between Unionists and Nationalists. It led to the deepest crisis in the Assembly in years and threatened to reintroduce Direct Rule. There were a number of areas of disagreement:
- Welfare Reform. Despite being agreed to in the Stormont House Agreement, the nationalist parties (SF and the SDLP) introduced a Petition of Concern - stopping the introduction of welfare reform and creating a crisis in the process. Unionists were deeply angry at what they saw as a betrayal of the agreement. London began to introduce huge financial fines on the Northern Ireland Government for the delay - leading to a protracted crisis.
- Paramilitary violence. The murder of leading republicans in Belfast allegedly by the IRA, created a huge political crisis. The UUP pulled out of the Executive. This was followed by the DUP who kept a revolving minister in place (to prevent the Assembly falling entirely leading to an election) This made the workings of any form of government highly difficult and led to months of crisis which had to eventually be sorted with another agreement - the Shared Future Agreement
As has been pointed out a long political crisis began to take place at the NI Assembly in the run up to the end of 2015. DUP and SF relations had soured even more than usual due to events such as the shooting of two people on the streets of Belfast.
As a result of this the UUP made quite a major decision - For the first time it was leaving the Executive and becoming an Opposition party. They were followed soon afterwards by the SDLP. The UUP's decision to pull out of the Executive, wrongfooted the DUP who feared losing support to the Ulster Unionists. In response they pulled all but one minister out of the Executive. They kept the one minister as losing all their ministers would have meant an election . It was only after months of pragmatic discussions that they eventually came to the Shared future agreement.
As a result of this the UUP made quite a major decision - For the first time it was leaving the Executive and becoming an Opposition party. They were followed soon afterwards by the SDLP. The UUP's decision to pull out of the Executive, wrongfooted the DUP who feared losing support to the Ulster Unionists. In response they pulled all but one minister out of the Executive. They kept the one minister as losing all their ministers would have meant an election . It was only after months of pragmatic discussions that they eventually came to the Shared future agreement.
COULD THIS BE A SUCCESS?
This Shared Future Agreement looked likely to be more of another interim settlement on the road to a final prolonged settlement than the actual full settlement itself. The agreement sorted out political road blocks such as the issue of welfare reform and prolonged the life of the Assembly to the 2016 election and beyond, which was an achievement in itself. It was very much a deal, not between all NI political parties but between the DUP and SF. They both clearly wanted to remain as the key representatives for their communities. It has been argued that the subsequent swap in positions ~(SF - Finance and DUP to Education ) following the election was also part of a side deal in this agreement. What is glaringly obvious though is that the key issues that weigh down NI Politics were left (once again) more or less unanswered.
The Shared Future agreement in the end only brought a stay of execution. The Assembly lasted until the 2016 election. However, within months it was suspended following the RHI scandal . The Assembly has now been suspended for over 1 year. It looks very likely that another agreement will have to be negotiated to get them out of the fine mess.
- Parades is still a huge issue as is the issue of flags.
- The past and the rights of 'victims' of the troubles is still unaddressed.
- Even the issue of paramilitaries is not dealt with in any meaningful way.
The Shared Future agreement in the end only brought a stay of execution. The Assembly lasted until the 2016 election. However, within months it was suspended following the RHI scandal . The Assembly has now been suspended for over 1 year. It looks very likely that another agreement will have to be negotiated to get them out of the fine mess.
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© J Wishart 2020
