The Main Features of The Good Friday Agreement

The Main Features of The Good Friday Agreement

A remarkable feature of Westminster's approach to the Northern Ireland

'Troubles' since 1969 has been the extent to which governments and

oppositions down the years set party conflicts aside in searching for

remedies and solutions.

When Labour came to power in 1997, the outgoing Secretary of State,

Sir Patrick Mayhew, was at pains to do all he could to help the

incoming minister, Dr Mo Mowlam. Discussions continued month after

month between party representatives. Both Prime Minister Tony Blair

and Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern involved themselves in the details to a

remarkable degree. Finally, on Good Friday 1998, all the main parties

- with the exception of the Democratic Unionist Party - announced

agreement.

Essentially the SDLP MP who described the accord as 'Sunningdale for

slow learners' was not wrong. A power-sharing devolved government

would be formed with ministerial posts distributed according to party

strength. The involvement of parties representing paramilitaries

(primarily the Ulster Democratic Party, the Progressive Unionist Party

and Sinn Fein) depended on the maintenance of cease-fires and

'decommissioning' of paramilitary weapons. A copy of the agreement was

delivered to every household in Northern Ireland, and in May 1998 the

accord was approved by referendum north and south; by a narrow margin,

even unionist voters gave their approval.

Two architects of the agreement, David Trimble and John Hume were

awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. A Northern Ireland Assembly was

elected, with its representation also indicating majority support for

the agreement. The issue of d...

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...g" for the peace process. At least some of the

new institutions will continue, including the cross-community policing

board, whose members are expected to be renominated.

The prospect of direct rule "with a green tinge" will become a reality

as the more mundane functions of the cross-border ministerial council

are expected to continue. The Government will seek to convene talks

with the main parties soon while it will also decide whether to

postpone local elections set for May.

Stormont's 12 ministers will lose their salaries. The Assembly's 108

members, who will continue to do constituency work, will still draw a

large part of their salary.

Despite the latest crisis, the most serious since the 1998 Good Friday

Agreement, Mr Blair said he believed all the main parties were still

committed to the peace process.