Recommendations & Conclusions
29 items
1
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
In the years leading up to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, considerable groundwork had been laid through patient negotiation, compromise, and determination to end the Troubles, a period of conflict which had claimed the lives of more of more than 3,500 people. We commend those who established what would become the …
Government response. The government recognised the importance and achievements of the Agreement, affirming its role as a living document, and stated its commitment to ensuring any future discussions on reforms are led by the people of Northern Ireland with cross-community consent.
Northern Ireland Office
2
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Accepted
In its 25th anniversary year, we acknowledge the achievement of those who negotiated and agreed the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland after three decades of conflict. We recognise the considerable leadership and bravery shown, especially by the leaders of the Northern Ireland parties and peacebuilders, including …
Government response. The government acknowledged the achievements of the Agreement and detailed its existing work to strengthen governance and stability in Northern Ireland, including measures from the 2020 New Decade New Approach deal and the 2022 Act, while reaffirming its commitment to …
Northern Ireland Office
3
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is the basis of devolved government in Northern Ireland. Several key provisions are codified in both domestic and international law and it has overwhelming democratic legitimacy—from which is derived a near- universal understanding that Northern Ireland should never again be blighted by violent conflict. It also …
Government response. The government welcomes the inquiry and reaffirms its unshakable commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, sharing the Committee's view that it provides the only legitimate basis for governance in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Office
4
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
As we will set out, this inquiry has found that there is scope for reform of the Agreement’s institutions—as is reflected in the findings that follow. It has also found that there is notable public interest in options for reform. We are mindful, however, of the specific provision made for …
Government response. The government acknowledges the challenges to stability and public interest in reform, agreeing that any substantive discussion on reforms must be led by the people of Northern Ireland and their representatives.
Northern Ireland Office
5
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
As such, we call upon the Government, in partnership with the Government of Ireland and in close consultation with the Northern Ireland parties, to commission a formal, independently led review (hereafter “the Review”) into the operation of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The Review should: • examine the …
Government response. The government rejects commissioning a formal, independently led review of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement institutions at this time, stating its focus is on the recent restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and that any discussion of reforms should be led …
Northern Ireland Office
6
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
In the 25 years since their inception, numerous attempts have been made at strengthening the viability and stability of the Strand One institutions in complex and challenging political circumstances. The successor agreements—and subsequent legislative alterations to the institutions—serve to illustrate the delicate context in which the institutions operate and the …
Government response. The government acknowledges the challenges and the committee's observations, reiterating its long-standing approach of working with local parties on the basis of cross-community consent for changes and noting that any future reform discussions must be carefully considered with community support.
Northern Ireland Office
7
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
Cross-community safeguards were a fundamental aspect of the Strand One institutions’ design. They recognised and accommodated the politics of a deeply divided, post-conflict society and were undoubtedly fundamental to securing agreement between Unionist and Nationalist parties in 1998. With an understanding drawn from that time, the institutions have facilitated successfully …
Government response. The government acknowledges the challenges of balancing cross-community governance and institutional stability, stating that any significant change to cross-community protections would require the support of the whole community.
Northern Ireland Office
8
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
There is broad consensus that the Strand One institutions are unstable and prone to collapse. The current system of nomination to the positions of First Minister and Deputy First Minister gives, in effect, a single party a veto over Executive formation and thus the continued functioning of democratic government in …
Government response. The government acknowledges the instability challenges and notes that discussions on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister nomination process are ongoing, but any significant departure from cross-community protections, like a supermajority nomination, would require extensive consultation and consideration.
Northern Ireland Office
9
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
In spite of their instability—owed in part to stringent cross-community safeguards— the institutions have shown that they can be effective in terms of legislative output. During periods of relative stability, by that metric the Assembly arguably outperforms its counterparts in Scotland and Wales. Evidence also shows that the institutions have …
Government response. The government welcomes the report and shares the sentiment, acknowledging the significance and transformative impact of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
Northern Ireland Office
10
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
The Strand One institutions have failed to address a number of critical policy issues in Northern Ireland. There is broad consensus that a deficit of governance has— and continues to have—a detrimental impact on policy development and outcomes. Such a deficit can be rectified only by elected representatives in Northern …
Government response. The government explicitly rejects a review of the Agreement or amendment of the 1998 Act 'for now,' stating that its focus is on restoring devolved institutions and that any significant reform requires widespread consent, led by the people of Northern …
Northern Ireland Office
11
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
While the design of the institutions—primarily through the use of vetoes and a system of mandatory coalition—stymies the effectiveness of government in Northern Ireland, we also recognise that the success of the institutions in turn depends on the political will of the actors who inhabit them and the working relationships …
Government response. The government acknowledges the challenges concerning the stability of the Northern Ireland institutions and the need for reforms to command widespread community support. It states that a review of the Agreement is not being considered at this time, but recognises …
Northern Ireland Office
12
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We understand the cautionary arguments against short-term reform to the process for the election of the Speaker. In previous instances of institutional boycott, the possibility of reforming the thresholds for electing key institutional roles such as Speaker of the Assembly was not seriously considered. This, coupled to the passing of …
Government response. The government rejected the implicit call for intervention to reform the Speaker election process, stating that a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time due to the recent …
Northern Ireland Office
13
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We recommend that the Government, in close consultation with the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland parties, legislates to amend the Northern Ireland Act 1998 such that the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly is elected by MLAs on a supermajority basis of two-thirds. This change should take effect …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to legislate for a supermajority election of the Speaker, stating that a review or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time due to the recent restoration of the …
Northern Ireland Office
14
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
Despite what political realities may have dictated in 1998, there is no justifiable reason why the titles of First Minister and Deputy First Minister should not be formally known as ‘Joint First Ministers.’ There is little dispute over the equal powers of the offices and there is consensus that the …
Government response. The government rejected the underlying premise for changing the titles of First and Deputy First Minister, stating that a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. It emphasized …
Northern Ireland Office
15
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We recommend that the titles of First Minister and Deputy First Minister be renamed ‘Joint First Minister’. Accordingly, the Government, in close consultation with the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland parties, should legislate to amend the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to that effect, with the change coming into …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to rename First and Deputy First Ministers as 'Joint First Minister' and legislate for this, stating that a review or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. It …
Northern Ireland Office
16
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
The change in nomination procedure for the offices of First and Deputy First Ministers resulting from the St Andrews Agreement in 2006 undermined the core principles of the Agreement. The offices are held jointly and their powers are equal. The nomination procedure instituted in 1998 was designed to reflect this …
Government response. The government rejected the implied need to address the undermining of core principles or the instability created by the current nomination procedure, stating that a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being …
Northern Ireland Office
17
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
Therefore, we recommend that the Government, in close consultation with the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland parties, legislates to amend the Northern Ireland Act 1998 such that the two holders of the office of Joint First Minister are elected by the Assembly on a supermajority basis of two-thirds, …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to legislate for the election of Joint First Ministers by a supermajority, stating that a review or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. It views such a …
Northern Ireland Office
18
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We note with interest various proposals for reforming the broader system of Executive formation. We believe that there is scope for a system which will allow The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 77 for greater cohesiveness within a coalition but are acutely aware of the potential …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to incorporate an evaluation of Executive formation reform into a review, stating that a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. It emphasized …
Northern Ireland Office
19
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We note with interest the lively discussion both within and without this inquiry regarding the future of community designation and its application to voting procedures in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. As already acknowledged, Northern Ireland has changed since 1998 and the understanding employed by the Agreement of what …
Government response. The government rejects incorporating a full evaluation of community designation into a review of the Agreement, stating that such a review is not being considered at this time and that cross-community protections are vital.
Northern Ireland Office
20
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We are aware of work already underway to strengthen the behaviours and working practices within the Strand One institutions. We concur with the argument that institutions can only be made effective by those who inhabit them and in this regard we endorse efforts to improve behaviours and best practice among …
Government response. The government rejects incorporating a module on improving the behaviours and working practices of Strand One institutions into a review, as a review of the Agreement is not being considered at this time.
Northern Ireland Office
21
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
The Northern Ireland parties have a fundamental role in shaping the future of the institutions to which they are elected by the people of Northern Ireland. As co- guarantors of the Agreement, however, the British and Irish Governments have an immutable obligation to nurture and support what is still a …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to commission an independently led review of the Agreement's institutions, stating that a review or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. It acknowledged the challenges to institutional …
Northern Ireland Office
22
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We note with concern the weight of evidence which suggests that the potential for the Strand Two institutions to deliver meaningful cooperation on the island of Ireland for the benefit of all its citizens, North and South, has not been realised. However, we also commend efforts which have seen pragmatic …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation to incorporate an evaluation of Strand Two institutions (NSMC and implementation bodies) into a review, stating that a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at …
Northern Ireland Office
23
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
As with Strand Two, we recognise the importance of Strand Three to the overall character and successful functioning of the Agreement. Ostensibly—and evidenced by the way in which they have largely been used—the institutions under Strand Three serve to provide structures to support the operation of the Strand One institutions. …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of Strand Three to the Agreement and commits to utilising its full potential, noting that the relevant bodies already meet regularly and the Prime Minister attended in 2022.
Northern Ireland Office
24
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
As such, we recommend that the Government increase the level of Prime Ministerial attendance at meetings of both the BIIGC and BIC, with relevant Cabinet Ministers attending in addition or deputising as necessary, and incorporate into the Review a comprehensive assessment of how Strand Three could be better utilised to …
Government response. The government rejects increasing Prime Ministerial attendance at BIIGC and BIC meetings and incorporating an assessment of Strand Three into a review, stating that a review of the Agreement is not being considered at this time.
Northern Ireland Office
25
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
It is clear from our own commissioned research—and that undertaken by others— that there is widespread public dissatisfaction with the stability and effectiveness of the Strand One institutions. There is also evidence of growing dissatisfaction with The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 79 the emphasis placed …
Government response. The government acknowledges the public's dissatisfaction and interest in reform, committing to continuing to listen to community views but emphasizing that discussions on reforms should be led by the people of Northern Ireland and their representatives.
Northern Ireland Office
26
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
We understand the logic in waiting for the institutions to get back up and running before embarking on a significant review and/or reform process. If the position of the two Governments and the majority of the Northern Ireland parties is that some measure of stability has to precede the Review—which …
Government response. The government rejects making preparations for a comprehensive review of the Agreement as soon as possible, stating that a review or amendment is not being considered at this time following the restoration of the devolved institutions.
Northern Ireland Office
27
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
Given the limited further evidence we received on the specific issue of ascribing legal and democratic legitimacy to any substantive reforms made to the institutions, we recommend that expert consultation on this issue should also form part of the Review. We also emphasise that the prospect of review and reform …
Government response. The government rejected the recommendation for expert consultation as part of a review, stating that a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time due to the recent restoration …
Northern Ireland Office
28
Conclusion
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Acknowledged
The potential for meaningful, substantive engagement with civic society has already been formally acknowledged by both governments and the Northern Ireland parties as a means of finding a pathway through Northern Ireland’s most intractable issues. Citizens’ assemblies have the potential to empower people to find solutions and reach across deep …
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of civic engagement and notes the calls for more mechanisms, but states that delivering on existing commitments is for the restored Northern Ireland Executive.
Northern Ireland Office
29
Recommendation
First Report - The effectiveness of the…
Rejected
Accordingly, we urge the Government to begin preparations for establishing a Northern Ireland Citizens’ Assembly. Its first undertaking should be to examine, alongside the 80 The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement Review, the issues of institutional reform discussed in this inquiry and it should aim to …
Government response. The government rejects beginning preparations for a Northern Ireland Citizens’ Assembly, stating that a review of the Agreement is not being considered at this time and that delivering on civic engagement commitments is for the restored Executive.
Northern Ireland Office