Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985

The 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement• Signed by Thatcher (British PM) and Garrett FitzGerald

(Taoiseach of Ireland) on Nov 15th 1985• It did not create a new power-sharing govt but…• The two made agreements that:– NI would never become part of the Republic of Ireland unless

the majority of the people in NI wanted it (this pleased Unionists)

– There would be an “Inter-Governmental Conference” – members of the British and Irish governments would meet regularly to sort out issues in NI. It did not have any power to make changes or laws but hoped to sort out issues by talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BskjMCyNcBs

What did the unionists think?• Again they had a problem with the south of Ireland

having any say in NI.• So they held huge “Ulster says no” rallies in NI.• The DUP and UUP joined together against the

Anglo-Irish agreement.• They had strikes and riots and attacked RUC officers.• Unlike Sunningdale nothing the unionists did could

bring down the Inter-Governmental Conference.

Results of the Anglo Irish Agreement

• (-)It did not create peace or stop the IRA• (+)But it did improve the relationship between the Irish

and British governments• (+)Gerry Adams and some Nationalists were pleased that

the British created the Inter-Governmental Conference. This would make him trust the British more and he would agree to peace talks.

• (+)John Hume described it as “a step forward on the road to lasting peace and political stability”