The Search for a Political Solution

• Power-sharing was proposed on the 20th March 1972

  It would be an executive that would share power between Catholics and Protestants. It would be elected by proportional representation. They would not have control over security or justice. An Irish dimension would exist.
• Nationalists were broadly supportive of power-sharing.
• Brian Faulkner supported powersharing
• Brain Faulkner's OUP was split in opinion over power-sharing
• The rest of the OUP, DUP and Vanguard opposed power-sharing and joined together in the United ulster unionist Council (UUUC). They believed power-sharing should not be shared with those not loyal to the union. They hated the Irish dimension.
• More anti-power-sharing unionist were elected to the assembly then pro power-sharing.
• The Head of the Executive was Brian Faulkner
• The Deputy of the Executive was Gerry Fitt
• On the 6th Of November 1973 discussions about the Council of Ireland began at Sunningdale
• Representatives from N.I., R.O.I., and Britain were at Sunningdale
• The Sunningdale Agreement

  • London agreed not to oppose Irish Unification if a majority of N.I. wanted it.
  • Dublin agreed Irish unity could only be achieved peacefully and with the consent of the majority of N.I.
  • Council of Ireland with 14 members was established. They had vague powers.
  • Security would eventually be returned to Stormont
• SDLP saw Sunningdale as paving the way for closer ties between N.I. and R.O.I.
• Faulkner saw Sunngidale as a token to get R.O.I to accept N.I.
• Republicans believed Sunningdale was less than they hoped for
• On the 10th December 1973 the Ulster Army Council was formed to resist an Irish dimension.
• The OUP's ruling council voted to reject the Sunningdale Agreement
• Brian Faulkner resigned as head of the OUP but remained as head of the executive. He was replaced by Harry West.
• Problems facing the executive

  1. Members found it difficult to work with politicians from other parties
  2. Supporters felt Unionists interests would be sacrificed to make power-sharing work.
  3. Executive was criticised by unionists and the Vanguard
  4. Britain still controlled security
  5. Irish Government did not recognise N.I. or introduce extradition
  6. Anti Sunningdale agreement unionists joined to disrupt business
• In the Westminster parliament elections, 11 out of 12 N.I. seats were won by the UUUC
• On the 14th May 1974 N.I. assembly voted in favour of continuing with the Sunningdale agreement.
• In March 1974 Taoiseach Cosgrove announced his government accepted N.I.
• Unions workers council organised a strike


  N.I. came to a standstill as industries closed because of electrical cuts and no fuel. There were 12 hour electricity blackouts and there was a total shutdown in gas supplies in some areas. There were food shortages and roadblocks
• On the 27th May 1974 loyalist car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan killed 27
• The army didn't want to take on strikers as they felt it was political action, not terrorist action.
• On the 25th May 1974 Harold Wilson made a T.V. speech denouncing the strike and calling organisers spongers
• This caused anger and a total shutdown o the 28th May 1974
• The British government and SDLP refused to negotiate with strikers
• The SDLP tried to delay the introduction of the council of Ireland
• On the 28th of May 1974 Brian Faulkner resigned
• On the 29th May 1974 the UWC ended their strike
• On the 30th May 1974 the power-sharing government was suspended, and direct rule was reimposed.