The 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement established regular meetings between the British and Irish governments to discuss issues in Northern Ireland but did not create a new power-sharing government. It agreed that Northern Ireland would not join the Republic of Ireland without the consent of Northern Ireland's majority and gave Ireland a consultative role in Northern Ireland's governance. Unionists strongly opposed the agreement as compromising Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom.

1. Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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”