HIST 417 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Executive Committee Of The Privy Council Of Northern Ireland, St Andrews Agreement, Downing Street Declaration
Document Summary
Reforms ending discrimination against catholics in the workplace. Catholics have made major gains in the professions etc, but have not entered the police force. This due to longstanding aversion, targeting of catholic police officers. 2001 reform of police services helped to recruit more catholics, but still. New moderate executive, but they didn"t have grassroots support. Strong emotional response, won nobel peace prize. British attempts to implement devolution all fail. No parties strong enough to impose views, none weak enough to have to give ground. With collapse of communism, another alternative is gone, more members turn to compromise. Violence continued due to hardline splinter groups ignoring ceasefire. All parties affirm commitment to democratic/peaceful means of resolving political differences, opposed to violence. Unionists recognize need to compromise, allow irish a say in affairs of northern irish government. On key issues, cross-community assent would be needed. Executive committee of 12 ministers, divided by parties proportionally, bi-partisan cabinet.
