The idea of the agreement was to get the two sides to work together in a group called the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Assembly would take certain decisions taken previously by the British Government in London. A copy of the agreement was posted in each assembly in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at reading before a referendum was held in which they were able to vote. Both views were recognized as legitimate. For the first time, the Irish Government has accepted, in a binding international agreement, that Northern Ireland should be part of the United Kingdom. [9] The Irish Constitution has also been amended to implicitly recognise Northern Ireland as part of the sovereign territory of the United Kingdom,[7] provided that a majority of the population of the island`s two jurisdictions accepts a united Ireland. On the other hand, the language of the agreement reflects a change in the legal emphasis placed by the United Kingdom from one for the Union to another for a united Ireland. [9] The agreement therefore left the question of future sovereignty over Northern Ireland indefinitely. [10] As part of the agreement, it was proposed to build on the existing Anglo-Irish interparliamentary body. Prior to the agreement, the body was composed only of parliamentarians from the British and Irish parliaments. In 2001, as proposed in the agreement, it was extended to include parliamentarians from all members of the Anglo-Irish Council.
It has been 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed. Here is a chronology of the events that led to the historic signing and the challenges that the Pact faced during its lifetime. The people of the Republic largely supported the deal, but the campaign in Northern Ireland was more controversial and the outcome less predictable. The referendums were held on the same day, 22 May 1998. 14 February – Sinn Fein and DUP conversations break down on Valentine`s Day due to differences of opinion over Irish language legislation. . . .