Ireland (6) - Changing relations

Question 1

Why was the Anglo-Irish agreement signed in the first place ?

Answer 1

• The British gov feared that sinn fein was going to overtake the SDLP
• Thatcher wanted to improve security
• To reduce nationalist alienation

Question 2

What was different about the Anglo-Irish agreement ?

Answer 2

There was no assembly or executive so these organisations could not be destroyed, therefore the agreement would hold strong

Question 3

What were the key terms of the Anglo-Irish agreement ?

Answer 3

• the establishment of an intergovernmental conference ( dealing with security, legal matters and political questions)
• a permanent secretariat made up of civil servants from NI and ROI
• devolution would only occur if there was an agreement of the sharing of power

Question 4

What were the unionist reactions to the AIA ?

Answer 4

All unionist were appalled the agreement. They felt like they had be abandoned by their own government. What annoyed them the most is that they had been in the dark for most of the negotiations

Question 5

What were the SDLP reactions to the AIA ?

Answer 5

They liked it because they were the party who was involved the most in the creation of the agreement

Question 6

What were the Sinn Fein reactions to the AIA ?

Answer 6

They opposed it because they thought it just made the division of Ireland more permanent.

Question 7

What were the Fianna Fail reactions to the AIA ?

Answer 7

They also opposed it, they were angry that Dublin saw a right for the british Gov to be in NI.

Question 8

What were the Westminster reactions to the AIA?

Answer 8

The agreement enjoyed cross-party support for the agreement

Question 9

Who were the three main groups opposing the AIA ?

Answer 9

Unionists , Sinn Fein and the Fianna Fail

Question 10

What three ways did the unionists oppose the AIA ?

Answer 10

• bonfires burning models of Margaret Thatcher
• Marches to the HQ of the Anglo-Irish secretariat
• a huge rally outside the city hall attended by 250,000

Question 11

How much did the Sinn Feins vote fall in the by elections of 1986 ?

Answer 11

from 42% to 35 %

Question 12

Was the opposition successful in removing the AIA ?

Answer 12

No, the British Gov was determined to stick by the agreement.

Question 13

did unionist ministers talk to the British Gov again after the means of opposition ?

Answer 13

by Sept 1987 the unionist ministers agreed to talk to the British minsters again