NI devolution

• Northern Irish politics is characterised by nationalist and unionist parties. Sinn Fein and the SDLP are nationalist parties wanting to join the Republic of Ireland, and the NI Conservatives and Ulster Unionist Party favour being part of the UK.

  Devolution in Northern Ireland had to be devised to share power between nationalist and unionist parties
• The Troubles have contributed significantly to the evolution of Northern Ireland's devolved powers, including the Good Friday Agreement which caused an end to 30 years of violence
• Northern Ireland has been governed differently to the rest of the UK. Between 1922 and 1972, it was the only part of the UK to have its own separate Parliament. It later changed to direct rule, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland having significant policy making powers.
• The Good Friday Agreement (1998) established the power sharing devolution of Northern Ireland, and ensured that both communities in a divided society were represented in the executive to assent to legislation on sensitive issues
• Power sharing collapsed in 2022 as DUP pulled out due to Brexit. The First Minister resigned over the Northern Ireland Protocol, and the DUP and Sinn Fein called for an election to be brought forward, but the other parties did not share this view.
• Power was restored in February 2024 due to the Windsor Agreement which adjusted the Northern Ireland Protocol to allow businesses in Northern Ireland to have the same trade agreements in the UK and maintain their flexible relationship with the EU