Politics AS1: Northern Ireland Political System

• When was the Good Friday agreement Signed?

  1998
• What Political parties opposed the Good Friday agreement?

  Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
• What is Direct Rule?

  Control by a governing power over a territory. (Westminster take control over Northern Ireland when the NIA is suspended
• Why do we have Direct Rule?

  It is introduced when the UK Government feels that the devolved assembly is not functioning properly or efficiently.
• Direct Rule was imposed in 1972 when the British Government lost confidence in the ability of the Unionist dominated Northern Ireland Parliament because….

  Deal with the Troubles

  Deliver much needed civil rights reform.
• Why do we have an SOSNI?

  Emergency situations, which is given power when the assembly is suspended and can be a very powerful position
• What does the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (SOSNI) do?

  They rule over Northern Ireland and make decisions for the country when the assembly is out of power and can’t make decisions/ affairs
• How is the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland elected?

  They are elected via the prime minister that are in power, they would be elected as the chief minister when they do
• What is one positive aspect of having Direct Rule in Northern Ireland?

  It allows for legislation to be passed in Westminster that would not have had any chance otherwise.
• What types of legislation were introduced under Direct Rule in Northern Ireland?

  Same sex marriage and abortion reform were introduced under Direct Rule.
• What are the benefits of Direct Rule in Northern Ireland?

  • Allows legislation to be passed that may not have been possible otherwise
  • Provides political breathing space to work on building a peaceful future
  • Establishes the N Ireland Select Committee for scrutiny of issues
  • Stops majority rule and discrimination against Catholics
• What committee was set up to deal with scrutiny of issues in Northern Ireland?

  The N Ireland Select Committee was set up for this purpose.
• How does Direct Rule affect the representation of Northern Irish MPs?

  It allows Northern Irish MPs to have a say through the N Ireland Select Committee.
• What issue did Direct Rule help to address regarding Catholics in Northern Ireland?

  It stopped majority rule and discrimination against Catholics.
• What is a consequence of direct rule in Northern Ireland?

  It created a democratic deficit.
• What does the term "democratic deficit" mean?

  It refers to a lack of democratic legitimacy when institutions fail to fulfill democratic principles.
• Who was put in charge of Northern Ireland's major political decisions under direct rule?

  An unelected Secretary of State from a political party that Northern Ireland voters could not vote for.
• What was the impact of having an unelected Secretary of State on local voters in Northern Ireland?

  Local voters had no choice over what issues were discussed, proposed, or passed.
• What public issue caused anger among Northern Ireland residents during direct rule?

  The possible introduction of water charges without local consultation.
• How many Members of Parliament (MPs) from Northern Ireland were there in the UK Parliament?

  18 MPs out of 650.
• What was the influence of Northern Ireland MPs on legislation during direct rule?

  Northern Ireland MPs had little influence in legislation.
• What was a common issue with the laws passed during direct rule in Northern Ireland?

  Laws were passed with little debate or scrutiny.
• Why might nationalist MPs object to legislation passed during direct rule?

  Because Sinn Féin will not sit in Westminster due to the oath of allegiance MPs have to take to the Queen.
• Which political party's MPs do not participate in Westminster due to an oath of allegiance?

  Sinn Féin.
• What happened in 1921

  A Irish treaty divided Ireland into North & South
• What agreement was signed in 1985?

  The Anglo-Irish Agreement
• What was the Anglo-Irish Agreement

  The Anglo-Irish agreement gave the Irish republic a say in policy making in Northern Ireland
• What happened in 1993 with Downing Street

  Decommissioning of arms under Senator George Micheal
• What is Devolution?

  Devolution is when certain legislative powers are passed down from a central legislation to an other democratic regional intuition etc. Wales
• What has Westminster Devolved into our government

  Health

  Education

  Communities

  Policing and Justice
• What do Westminster still have power over

  Immigration

  Tax

  Minimum wage

  Armed Forces Defence policy
• What are the terms do the Good Friday Agreement

  Election of Northern Ireland Assembly

  Prisoner release programme

  North & South ministerial Council

  RUC reform

  Referendum on the terms
• What does the North & South Ministerial Council do

  Allows minsters from Dublin and Belfast to co-operate on the co-ordinate policy
• What are the 3 strands of the Good Friday agreement

  Strand 1) Power sharing and Executive

  Strand 2)North and South dimension

  Strand 3) British and Irish dimension
• Strand 1 - Power sharing

  The assembly would be created with MLAs being elected using a highly electoral system (Single Transferable vote )

  An executive committee would be established with ministerial position being allocated on the basis of the percentage of votes received by each party
• Strand 2 - North and South Dimension

  Minister Council was established for North and South

  it was seen as a compromised between nationals demands from the Republic to play a meaningful role and unionist demands that it would have no actual executive powers
• Strand 3 - British and Irish Dimension

  This was made to promote co-operation between all the newly developed bodies with Westminster

  this was essential to reassure unionists that the union was not under threat
• When did Northern Ireland Assembly reopen and why did it?

  It reopened 2007 because of the St Andrews agreement and was signed, this lead to stormont being reopened
• How many MLAs is there in Northern Ireland Assembly

  90MLAs
• What is the 3 Main functions of the Northern Ireland Assembly

  Legislative - to pass laws

  Scrutiny - check up on laws and bills (9 MLAs check up on 1 out of the 9 minsters)

  Representative - Represent the Community