What is in the document
Early on Friday morning Mitchel McLaughlin expressed
Sinn Fein's worries about the swings and shifts in the
flavour of the document when he noted that he had
earlier pointed out that `the Unionists were attempting
to take the substance out of this paper in a number of
key areas. They succeeded to some degree in Strand
Two.' By mid morning however, that had been reversed.
McLaughlin also spoke of `some other progress, in
particular in Strand One. Sinn Féin continues to be
opposed to an assembly, nevertheless many of the
checks, balances and safeguards which we argued for
during the negotiations, have now been secured.''
Key points in the document include an Assembly of 108
members, elected by PR from the existing 18 Westminster
constituencies . It would have a Chair, a First
Minister, a Deputy First Minister and up to 10
ministers with responsibility for the existing NIO
departments.
These would be elected by the de Hondt system of PR
from the 108 members, as an attempt to ensure
proportionality. Those holding these executive offices
would take a `Pledge of Office' to carry out their
duties in accordance with stated principles. In
addition to the ministers, it is proposed to have
committees with an advisory role and powers of scrutiny
of legislation.
Those elected to Ministerial offices would be compelled
by legislation to participate in cross border executive
structures, a North/South Ministerial Council,
`participation ... to be one of the essential
responsibilities' of office.
The powers of such an assembly would not be immediate,
a shadow period would serve to allow time to identify
its work, with this task to be complete by October
1998.
A joint parliamentary forum would also be developed,
while the creation of a `Civic Forum' would allow for
the participation of Trade Unions, Community groups
etc.
Under Constitutional Issues the talks document
continues to set the `right' to self determination on
the Island as a whole in the context of `accepting that
this right must be achieved and exercised with and
subject to the agreement and consent of a majority of
the people of Northern Ireland.' Polls to test such a
position cannot be held more frequently than every
seven years.
While The Government of Ireland Act 1920 is being
repealed, the Irish Constitution will move from
defining the nation in geographic terms to viewing it
in terms of its people.
Where in one section of the agreement there is a
`recognition of the birthright of all the people of
Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted
as Irish or British, or both...' Article 2 as amended
would state that it is the `entitlement and birthright
of every person born in the island of Ireland, which
includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish
nation.'
Article 3 will now affirm the `will of the Irish
nation, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the
people who share the territory of the island of
Ireland' while `recognizing that a united Ireland shall
be brought about only by peaceful means with the
consent of a majority of the people, democratically
expressed, in both jurisdictions in the island.' A
second part of Article 3 will allow for the creation of
institutions with executive powers and functions which
`may exercise powers and functions in respect of all or
any part of the island.'
Mechanisms for the introduction of `an accelerated
programme for the release of prisoners, including
transferred prisoners' would be introduced, with a
fixed time review process setting release dates, and
with any remaining `qualifying' prisoners (that is,
prisoners whose organisations are on ceasefire) to be
released at the end of two years.
independent Commission on policing will be
established, with the aim of delivering `a fair and
impartial system of justice to the community'. Such an
approach would seek `a police service that can enjoy
widespread support from' and be seen `as an integral
part of the community as a whole.'
Demilitarization including the removal of security
installations, the removal of emergency powers and the
Offences Against the State Act will occur, while the
Agreement seeks the completion of decommissioning
within 2 years of an agreement being reached.
The Irish language is to be given recognition, with the
British pledged to `take resolute action to promote the
language', including such areas as education,
consultation with the Irish speaking community and with
the improvement of access to TnaG in the 6 Counties.
Proposed areas for North South cooperation and
implementation
- Agriculture
- Education including teacher qualifications and
exchanges
- Transport - strategic planning
- Environment
- Waterways
- Social Security/ Social Welfare, including entitlements
of cross border workers, and fraud
- Tourism
- EU Programmes - SPPR, INTERREG, Leader II etc
- Inland Fisheries
- Aquaculture
- Health - accident and emergency services and related
cross border issues
- Urban and Rural development
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