O'Neill's Policies & Improving relations Flashcards
What was ‘gerrymandering’?
It meant unionists were ruling over a catholic dominated population, such as redrawing of the boundaries of local council areas to ensure unionist control even where there was a nationalist majority.
Why was O’Neills leadership weak from the start?
Most of the OUP MPs wanted another minister, Brain Faulkner, to be Prime Minister of NI
What things did O’Neill do to improve the economy? (7)
- £900 million of investment and the creation of 5 economic zones to update existing industries and attract new ones
- Modernisation of the road and railway network
- Co-operation with the Dublin based Irish Trades Union Congress, whose support was important for economic development
- Establishment of an economic council under Brian Faulkner to drive forward the modernisation of the economy
- The creation of a ministry of development to drive economic revival
- The establishment of a new city based on the existing towns of Lurgan and Portadown called Craigavon
- The development of a new university in the market town of Coleraine to help develop a skilled workforce
What positive impact did his policies have ? (5)
- a number of multinational firms e.g Grundig took advantage of generous investment grants and tax allowances to open factories in Northern Ireland
- The construction of a motorway system was started
- An oil refinery was opened in Belfast
- a new airport was under development
- links with the Republic of Ireland resulted in the signing of an agreement on the supply of electricity from the Republic
How many new jobs were created with O’Neill?
In total over 35,000 new jobs were created during the 1960s
How many jobs were lost ?
Over 20,000 jobs were lost in the ailing traditional industries such as linen manufacturing
What three bad economic things occur ?
- Between 1963 and 1969 the government had to give money to shipbuilders Harland and Wolff to keep it afloat
- Unemployment averaged between 7-8%
- Several companies refused government grants to open factories West of the River Bann, seeing the area as too remote from their export markets
What was the unemployment rate in the west of the river Bann and why?
Over 12.5% because the majority of the population in the West was nationalist
How did O’Neill attempt to improve community relations with the nationalist community in Ni? (4)
- Visiting Cardinal Conway, Archbishop of Armagh and a spiritual leader of Ireland’s Catholics
- Offering official condolences to the Catholic Church on Pope John XXIII’s death (June 1963)
- Visiting schools and hospitals run by the Catholic Church
- Increasing financial support provided for Catholic schools and hospitals
Were O’Neill’s steps to improve community relations with the nationalists well received by them?
Yes
O’Neills attempts to improve relations with the Republic of Ireland (3)
- 14th January 1965, first in person meeting of Ireland’s main leaders since 1925 took place at Stormont with O’Neill meeting Taoiseach Sean Lemass
- O’Neill made a return visit to Dublin four weeks later to focus on economic co-operation
- Discussions also took place between northern and southern ministers on issues such as tourism and electrical link-ups
What was an indication of the tensions that had existed between the two parts of the island when Lemass and O’Neill met?
Since this was the first meeting in 40 years
Unionist reaction to O’Neill reaching out to the Republic of Ireland (2)
- Both support and opposition
- Mixed reaction due to the desire of many moderate unionists for reform and the fear among others of the changes that such reform might bring to their position
What indicates O’Neills concerns about the reaction with meeting Lemass from his party and that it was his idea alone?
- O’Neill didn’t inform his own cabinet colleagues of Lemass’ January 1965 visit in advance
Evidence of divisions in OUP in response to O’Neill’s visit with Lemass?
- When Brian Faulkner condemned O’Neill’s failure to consult his cabinet
