12 Good Friday Agreement

Question 1

What date was the Joint Framework document?

Answer 1

February 1995

Question 2

What is the Joint Framework document?

Answer 2

An agreement drawn up by the British and Irish governments. They set the agenda for talks. They proposed a new Northern Ireland assembly and a North-South Council of Ministers

Question 3

Reactions to the Joint Framework Document (2)

Answer 3

• unionists saw too many similarities with Sunningdale and hated the possibility of the development of Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland links into some for, of institutions with executive powers
• Sinn Fein also had issues with the Framework documents. They argued that the documents provided mechanics by which unionists would be able to veto progress (say they don’t want it)

Question 4

What are the Mitchel principles ?

Answer 4

Outlines plans for the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons

Question 5

When was the Good Friday Agreement ?

Answer 5

10th April 1998

Question 6

What did the Good Friday Agreement do?

Answer 6

It ended the troubles and restored a power sharing government to N Ireland

Question 7

How did the Good Friday Agreement do this?

Answer 7

Former US Senator George Mitchell decided to set a deadline to put pressure on all sides to agree a settlement

Question 8

When was the deadline ?

Answer 8

Midnight 9th April 1998

Question 9

How was the Good Friday Agreement achieved?

Answer 9

There was a week of talks between all groups including the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. Blaue also called on Bill Clinton to keep the talks going.

Question 10

Key terms of the Agreement : (3)

Answer 10

• a New NI assembly was set up with 108 members. Any decisions it made needed the agreement of both communities
• A North/South Council was set up to discuss cross-border co-operation on issues such as farming, tourism, trade and health
• A British/Irish Council was set up containing members of all parliaments and assemblies in the U.K. to discuss co-operation on farming, energy, drugs

Question 11

What else did the Agreement include? (3)

Answer 11

• The Irish Government gave up its rights to N Ireland contained in Articles 2 and 3 of the 1937 Irish Constitution
• There would be early release for paramilitary prisoners
• a review of policing which led to the creation of the PSNI

Question 12

Reactions to the agreement (unionists)

Answer 12

• the DUP and UKUP hadn’t been part of the talks, showing their opposition to the Agreement
• the UUP had participated in the talks, but not all members agreed to the outcome. In May 1998 Anti Agreement unionists set up a campaign to oppose it

Question 13

Nationalist reaction to the agreement

Answer 13

• The SDLP supported it

- Sinn Fein supported it and altered its constitution to allow members to stand in elections to a N Ireland Assembly

Question 14

What happened next ?(4)

Answer 14

• A copy of the Agreement was sent to every house in N Ireland and the Republic and a referendum was held on 22nd May 1998
• 71.1% of people in N Ireland supported it. More nationalists than unionists supported it
• 94.4% of people in the republic supported it
• a new assembly was elected in N Ireland