The agreement aimed to address the conflict in Northern Ireland, often referred to as "The Troubles," by creating a new framework for cooperation between Britain and Ireland, particularly in Northern Irish governance. It marked a significant step toward peace in the region, though it was met with mixed reactions and significant opposition from some political groups.
The conflict in Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles, erupted in the late 1960s and continued into the 1990s. It was a violent conflict rooted in deep-seated divisions between British Unionists/Loyalists and Irish Nationalists/Republicans.
The British government, which governed Northern Ireland as part of the UK, was viewed by many Irish Nationalists as biased and oppressive. The Irish government, on the other hand, claimed an interest in the welfare of the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland but had no formal role in the governance of the region. By the 1980s, The Troubles had led to thousands of deaths, and efforts to find a political solution had repeatedly failed.
The Anglo-Irish Agreement was negotiated primarily by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald. It sought to promote peace and stability by creating a framework for shared cooperation between Britain and Ireland.
The main provisions of the agreement included:
Intergovernmental Conference: The agreement established an Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, which gave the Irish government a consultative role in Northern Irish affairs for the first time. This included matters related to security, justice, and political matters affecting the nationalist community. The conference was designed to promote better cooperation between the two governments on issues affecting Northern Ireland, particularly the rights of the Catholic minority and cross-border security cooperation.
Northern Ireland’s Status: The agreement reaffirmed that Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom as long as the majority of its people wished it to be so. This principle of "consent" was a major concession to Unionists, ensuring that any change in Northern Ireland's constitutional status would require majority support. However, the agreement also recognized the "aspirations" of the nationalist community, acknowledging the possibility of future reunification if there were consent.
Commitment to Peace and Reconciliation: Both governments committed to promoting peace, reconciliation, and respect for the rights of both communities in Northern Ireland. The agreement emphasized the need for reforms in policing and justice in Northern Ireland to ensure fair treatment of all citizens.
Cross-Border Cooperation: The agreement encouraged greater cooperation on economic and social matters between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, such as improving transport links and fostering cross-border business and cultural exchanges.
The Anglo-Irish Agreement was seen as a significant step toward peace, but it was highly controversial, especially among Unionists in Northern Ireland, who viewed it as a betrayal.
Unionist leaders fiercely opposed the agreement, viewing it as a violation of British sovereignty and an unacceptable concession to the Irish government. They were particularly angry that the Irish government was given a consultative role in Northern Irish affairs, which they saw as undermining their position as part of the United Kingdom.
Unionists launched large-scale protests, including a "Day of Action" in March 1986, and some members of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) resigned from Parliament in protest.
Irish Nationalists, particularly the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), welcomed the agreement because it gave the Irish government a formal role in Northern Ireland’s governance, signalling that their aspirations for Irish unity were being taken seriously.
However, Irish Republicans, including the militant Provisional IRA and its political wing Sinn Féin, rejected the agreement, seeing it as falling short of their goal of a united Ireland. The IRA continued its armed campaign against British rule.
The British and Irish governments defended the agreement as a necessary compromise that would lead to peace by giving both communities a stake in Northern Ireland's future. Margaret Thatcher, despite her opposition to Irish nationalism, supported the agreement as a way to stabilize Northern Ireland and reduce violence.
While the Anglo-Irish Agreement did not end the violence in Northern Ireland, it was a significant step in the peace process, setting the stage for future negotiations, including the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. It was the first time the British government had formally acknowledged the Irish government's interest in Northern Irish affairs, and it established the principle of power-sharing between Unionists and Nationalists.
