Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 21
Belfast/Good Friday Agreement forms the legitimate basis of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
Conclusion
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 includes clear imperatives upon the parties in Northern Ireland and the British and Irish governments to regularly review its operation and to take remedial action where necessary to address difficulties in accordance with their treaty obligations.
Government Response Summary
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.
Paragraph Reference:
21
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government (UKG) welcomes the Committee’s inquiry into the effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (‘the Agreement’), which is at the heart of Northern Ireland’s constitutional arrangements. The report was published in the twenty-fifth anniversary year of the Agreement, which was marked with reflection on the significance of the Agreement, and the transformative impact it has had in Northern Ireland. The Government shares the sentiment in the report that the culmination of the peace process in the Agreement was not inevitable and that it required “considerable bravery and leadership” from across different communities and perspectives. The Government remains unshakable in its commitment to the Agreement, an Agreement hard fought for and which should not easily be cast aside. UKG shares the view of the Committee that the Agreement provides the only legitimate basis for governance in Northern Ireland.