Conflict That Still Resides
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Describing the current state of the peace process in Northern Ireland post Good Friday Agreement.
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Understanding the Current Peace Process
The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 marked the beginning of the peace process in Northern Ireland. During this time, additional members of the UK Parliament were transferred to work for the Northern Ireland assembly to ensure that no one party could dominate. However, this maneuvering of government powers and the disbandment of paramilitary groups caused failure from both sides to fully agree and implement important aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. In 2002, England gained direct rule over Northern Ireland once again. There have been additional efforts to create equality for both sides including the “fifty-fifty recruitment” program (2001-2011), which helped to increase the percentage of Catholic police force members and the “Together: Building a United Community” (2013--) strategy by Sinn Féin to address a variety of issues of inequalities that still persist. There is almost an equal amount of Protestants living in Northern Ireland as there are Catholics. According to the 2011 census, 48 percent of Northern Ireland’s population identified as Protestant and 45 percent as Catholic. However, these percents account for a smaller population of NI since a growing number of people are citing no religious affiliation.
The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 marked the beginning of the peace process in Northern Ireland. During this time, additional members of the UK Parliament were transferred to work for the Northern Ireland assembly to ensure that no one party could dominate. However, this maneuvering of government powers and the disbandment of paramilitary groups caused failure from both sides to fully agree and implement important aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. In 2002, England gained direct rule over Northern Ireland once again. There have been additional efforts to create equality for both sides including the “fifty-fifty recruitment” program (2001-2011), which helped to increase the percentage of Catholic police force members and the “Together: Building a United Community” (2013--) strategy by Sinn Féin to address a variety of issues of inequalities that still persist. There is almost an equal amount of Protestants living in Northern Ireland as there are Catholics. According to the 2011 census, 48 percent of Northern Ireland’s population identified as Protestant and 45 percent as Catholic. However, these percents account for a smaller population of NI since a growing number of people are citing no religious affiliation.
Republican and Loyalist Groups
These groups still exist but do not possess the power they once might have during the Troubles to disrupt the political stability in Northern Ireland. Many groups including the Provisional Irish Republican Army (nationalist) and the Ulster Defense Association (loyalist) have given up their use of weapons, though offshoots of these organizations persist. These organizations will have occasional flare ups but have managed to lower overall death toll.
These groups still exist but do not possess the power they once might have during the Troubles to disrupt the political stability in Northern Ireland. Many groups including the Provisional Irish Republican Army (nationalist) and the Ulster Defense Association (loyalist) have given up their use of weapons, though offshoots of these organizations persist. These organizations will have occasional flare ups but have managed to lower overall death toll.
The Parades Commission
The commission was established in 1998 under the Public Processions Act to assist in the peaceful execution of parades for both nationalist and loyalist groups. Each year, roughly four thousand parades take place in Northern Ireland. These a parades are very special to the people hosting them because they are a way to retain cultural expression and preserve heritage. However, parades from both sides are known to cause trouble and must be regulated by the Parades Commission.
The commission was established in 1998 under the Public Processions Act to assist in the peaceful execution of parades for both nationalist and loyalist groups. Each year, roughly four thousand parades take place in Northern Ireland. These a parades are very special to the people hosting them because they are a way to retain cultural expression and preserve heritage. However, parades from both sides are known to cause trouble and must be regulated by the Parades Commission.