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Belfast/Good Friday Agreement: 25th Anniversary
30 March 2023
Lead MP
Chris Heaton-Harris
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
EconomyNorthern IrelandForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Chris Heaton-Harris raised concerns about belfast/good friday agreement: 25th anniversary in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Emphasises the historic significance of the agreement, highlighting its achievements in peace, prosperity, and reconciliation. Discusses the three interrelated strands of the agreement and their impact on governance, cross-border co-operation, and international relations. Acknowledges the role of women in the peace process and pays tribute to key figures like Mo Mowlam and Monica McWilliams. Commits to continued investment and support for Northern Ireland's economic growth and education.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Highlights the importance of education in fostering unity and creating a more cohesive society.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Stresses the need to maintain vigilance regarding peace, acknowledging recent increases in security threats. Emphasises ongoing commitment to protecting the agreement's achievements.
Calls for a more detailed Government response on tackling loyalist paramilitarism and ensuring law enforcement addresses criminal activities within communities.
Simon Hoare
Con
North Dorset
Recognises the significant contributions of women in fostering dialogue, repairing communities, and building trust across different groups in Northern Ireland.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Praises the PSNI's efforts to maintain safety amidst recent violent incidents. Expresses gratitude for their role in keeping peace despite rising tensions.
Peter Kyle
Lab
Hove and Portslade
Pays tribute to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, highlighting its significance for peace in Northern Ireland. He emphasises that more than 3,500 people lost their lives during the conflict, but the agreement has made significant progress possible. The speech includes praise for leaders who worked towards peace and stresses the importance of continuing efforts to nurture a stable devolved government. Kyle also mentions five key principles for keeping progress moving forward: leadership matters, treating Northern Ireland as a valued part of the Union, nurturing strong relationships between UK and Irish governments, building respect among all communities, and persevering when talks stall. He addresses contradictions in current Northern Ireland policy and highlights the influence of the Good Friday agreement on a global scale.
Simon Hoare
Con
North Dorset
Mr. Hoare honoured the speeches from both Front Benches, acknowledging the passion and commitment of the Secretary of State and shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland towards Northern Ireland. He reflected on the timing of the Good Friday agreement's conclusion during Holy Week, symbolising the hope that emerged from a period of hard graft and broken promises. Mr Hoare highlighted the significant contributions made by John Major’s Government in laying the groundwork for the agreement and emphasised the role of political bravery and leadership in achieving success. He warned about the potential negative impact of social media on brave political decisions, suggesting its importance today is as vital as it was in 1998. Mr Hoare also discussed the relevance of the Good Friday agreement beyond Northern Ireland, touching upon the need for education to ensure future generations understand the significance and reasons behind the peace process. He emphasised that peace is a continuous process rather than an event, with north-south relations needing resurrection despite mutual respect between geopolitical entities on the island of Ireland. Additionally, Mr Hoare highlighted the importance of maintaining devolution in Northern Ireland and encouraged political leaders to recommit to the spirit of the Good Friday agreement.
Richard Thomson
SNP
Moray
Emphasised the importance of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, noting its impact on peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland. Highlighted the establishment of new institutions like the Northern Irish Assembly and the North South Ministerial Council, as well as prisoner release and decommissioning processes. Acknowledged the significant personal sacrifices made by those involved in achieving these outcomes. Stressed the inspirational role of the agreement for other contested regions globally and its reinforcement of the principle of consent regarding Northern Ireland's constitutional future.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Acknowledged the contributions made by politicians in Northern Ireland towards peace, comparing it to the progress seen in South Africa. Highlighted that Northern Ireland’s experiences provided a model for other countries facing similar challenges.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr Shannon acknowledges the contributions made by other Members and reflects on his extensive political career. He emphasises that the DUP was never completely opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, supporting elements such as power sharing and cross-community consent but opposing the release of murderers from prison and welcoming the IRA into government without decommissioning weapons. He expresses gratitude towards those who contributed to peace in Northern Ireland and highlights the importance of maintaining a political environment where both Unionists and nationalists can agree on governance. Shannon asserts that respect for the principle of consent, cross-community consent, and the right to pursue national and political aspirations as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement is crucial. He warns against potential constitutional changes without the consent of the majority and criticises the impact of the EU protocol on Northern Ireland’s governance.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Thanked those involved in the process leading to the Good Friday Agreement, including Margaret Thatcher and Garret FitzGerald for the Anglo-Irish agreement. Acknowledged John Major, Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, Mo Mowlam, George Mitchell, and Jonathan Powell as key figures who laid groundwork for peace. Recalled personal experiences during the Troubles, expressing deep appreciation for the historic moment when a former IRA leader sat side by side with Unionists in power-sharing government. Emphasised the importance of making political institutions work to uphold peace, noting past collapses of the institutions and the significance of agreements like the Windsor framework. Highlighted lessons from the Good Friday agreement: step-by-step progress, persistence, courage, leadership, and the role of outside involvement.
Stephen Farry
SDLP
South Down
Mr Farry emphasised the historical context of the Good Friday Agreement, noting that it was nearly named after a different religious day due to missed deadlines. He praised the personal sacrifices made by key figures like Bertie Ahern and highlighted the agreement's three-stranded process and principle of consent. Mr Farry acknowledged significant progress in peace, prosperity, and societal changes but also noted ongoing issues such as paramilitary activity, economic disparity, segregation, and political instability. He supported the Windsor framework as a soft landing for Brexit-related challenges and called for reforms to address governance issues, including the system of designations and weighted majority decision-making. Mr Farry concluded by advocating for investment in skills, economy, and public services through potential government assistance.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
The Good Friday agreement is one of the greatest achievements of a Labour Government. I am proud to stand here today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that historic moment when communities came together and took a leap of faith for a better future. Among other things, Liz Twist reflects on the role women played in the peace process, specifically highlighting May Blood and Mo Mowlam.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
It is a real honour to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon (Liz Twist). I would like to read out something that Mo Mowlam said about another civic group that was instrumental in the peace process, the Quakers. In a speech at Friends House in London in 2002, she said: 'They did an incredible amount in a house where everyone knew they could be trusted.' Catherine West also discusses the importance of local government and education for fostering a more peaceful future, and questions the Secretary of State on his views regarding a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and clashes with the European convention on human rights.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Welcomes the opportunity to speak on protecting the legacy of the Northern Ireland peace process, emphasising the importance of civil rights and justice. Criticises threats to journalists working in Northern Ireland, highlighting an example where a journalist was killed due to doing their job.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
Interrupts Grahame Morris's speech citing an ongoing legal case that should not be referred to in the Chamber.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Praises the Belfast/Good Friday agreement, acknowledging its importance and the bravery of those involved. Stresses the need for continued work on cross-community engagement and support for youth education in Northern Ireland.
Nottingham North
The Member thanked all contributors for their speeches, acknowledged the importance of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement and its influence on peace processes globally. He emphasised the Government's commitment to the agreement, including the step-by-step nature of achieving peace. He highlighted the role of journalists in Northern Ireland and mentioned the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill. He also thanked Members for their wise counsel and advice on working across the Chamber to honour the agreement.
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Assessment & feedback
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