1. FROM THIS…….

2. AND THIS……. Marty

3. …….TO THIS!!

4. WELCOME TO THE WELCOME TO THE WEIRD AND WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICS! WONDERFUL WORLD OF NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICS!

5. Why is the situation in Northern Ireland so complex?

6. Why is Northern Ireland so complex?  Political divide between: UNIONISTS and NATIONALISTS  Unionists identify with the British state & wish to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. They tend to be Protestants  Nationalists identify with the Irish state & aspire to a United Ireland. They tend to be Catholic

7.  Catholics make-up over 43% of N.I population  Catholics & Protestants live separate lives, with separate cultural & historical identities

8. Devolution in Northern Ireland How far down the path to devolution is Northern Ireland?

9. History of the Debate  1801, Act of Union  1916, Easter Rising – Rebellion against British Rule in Dublin

10. Partition  1921, Irish Treaty divided Ireland into North & South  1949 Irish Republic established 1922-72 Northern Ireland self-governing 1922-72 Northern Ireland self-governing 1972, DIRECT RULE, Secretary of State for N.Ireland – ‘The Troubles’ 1972, DIRECT RULE, Secretary of State for N.Ireland – ‘The Troubles’

11. 1985 - 1998 1985, Anglo-Irish Agreement gave Irish Republic a Right to have a say in policy-making in N.Ireland 1985, Anglo-Irish Agreement gave Irish Republic a Right to have a say in policy-making in N.Ireland 1993 Downing Street Declaration set up arms decommissioning commission under Senator George Mitchell 1993 Downing Street Declaration set up arms decommissioning commission under Senator George Mitchell

12. 1998 Good Friday Agreement After years of negotiations and discussions a deal was reached!

13. What were the terms of the Good Friday Agreement? Election of Northern Ireland Assembly Election of Northern Ireland Assembly Prisoner release programme Prisoner release programme Arms decommissioning Arms decommissioning North-South Ministerial council (allowing ministers from Dublin & Belfast to co-operate on and co ordinate policy) North-South Ministerial council (allowing ministers from Dublin & Belfast to co-operate on and co ordinate policy) RUC reform RUC reform RUC Referendum on the terms Referendum on the terms

14. What was the outcome of the referendum? Referendum (1998) 71% Yes vote for Good Friday Agreement 71% Yes vote for Good Friday Agreement 81% turnout 81% turnout Slim majority of unionists & large majority of nationalists backed referendum Slim majority of unionists & large majority of nationalists backed referendum

15. How is the N.I. assembly organised? Elected N.I. Assembly, 108 members with legislative powers elected by STV Elected N.I. Assembly, 108 members with legislative powers elected by STVSTV

16. How is the N.I. assembly organised? Governing executive committee (11ministers headed by First and Deputy First Minister) Governing executive committee (11ministers headed by First and Deputy First Minister) Ministerial posts allocated on PR basis according to party strength in assembly Ministerial posts allocated on PR basis according to party strength in assembly David Trimble (UUP) became first minister, Seamus Mallon deputy (SDLP), Sinn Fein won 2 executive ministry posts David Trimble (UUP) became first minister, Seamus Mallon deputy (SDLP), Sinn Fein won 2 executive ministry posts

17. Elections to Northern Ireland Assembly (1998) Parties Seats won 1 st Preference vote (%) Ulster Unionist Party 2821.3 Progressive Unionist Party 22.6 Democratic Unionist Party 2018.1 UK Unionist Party 54.5 Independent Unionists 32.9 Social Democratic & Labour Party 2422.0 Sinn Fein 1817.6 Alliance Party 66.5 Women’s coalition 21.6