Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Good Friday Agreement

Wednesday 25 March 2026 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The anniversary of the Good Friday agreement will be celebrated on 10 April 2026.
  • Leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would undermine a core principle of the Good Friday agreement.
  • The Secretary of State emphasizes the importance of political courage and the lessons learned from the Good Friday agreement for resolving conflicts.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bell Ribeiro-Addy Lab Clapham and Brixton Hill
Northern Ireland
Context

The anniversary of the Good Friday agreement is approaching, which ended the troubles in Northern Ireland nearly 30 years ago.

Question

What steps are being taken to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday agreement?

Answer from Hilary Benn

On 10 April we will celebrate the anniversary of the Good Friday agreement, which nearly 30 years ago brought an end to the troubles and enabled Northern Ireland to establish a power-sharing Government.

Answered
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Q2 Paul Foster Lab South Ribble
Northern Ireland Democracy & Elections
Context

There is concern about the potential impact of the UK leaving the European convention on human rights, which could undermine a core principle of the Good Friday agreement.

Question

With knowledge that it requires constant political co-operation and public support, its biggest challenge no doubt is the Tory-Reform policy of leaving the European convention on human rights. If the UK left the ECHR, that would undermine a core principle of the agreement. Does the Secretary of State agree that there are some within this Chamber who would wholly compromise the peace in Northern Ireland for short-lived, ill-judged political gain?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I do agree with my hon. Friend, and I do not understand why some are advocating removing the ECHR from the Good Friday agreement. It would be highly irresponsible, and it shows a complete lack of understanding about what the agreement involved.

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Q3 Jessica Toale Lab Bournemouth West
Northern Ireland Foreign Affairs
Context

The Good Friday agreement is seen as a beacon of hope for conflict-affected states around the world, and Northern Ireland's young people have shared their experiences and lessons from the agreement.

Question

What is the Secretary of State doing to share the UK's expertise and ensure that others affected by conflict can benefit from it?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I agree with my hon. Friend. The biggest lesson of the Good Friday agreement is that it takes immense political courage to say yes, rather than to go on saying no. To pick up her point, at the end of last year the Foreign Secretary convened the western Balkans countries under the Berlin process at Hillsborough castle, where the First and Deputy First Ministers talked through how Northern Ireland has made this extraordinary progress.

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Q4 Bell Ribeiro-Addy Lab Clapham and Brixton Hill
Northern Ireland
Context

The Good Friday agreement recognised the importance of addressing the suffering of victims of the troubles, legislating for which remains unfinished business.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that it is time to take action on legislating for addressing the suffering of victims and implementing a border poll?

Answer from Hilary Benn

The provisions relating to a border poll are clearly set out in the Good Friday agreement. There is one criterion that governs such a decision, and at the moment there is no evidence that there is a majority for a constitutional change in Northern Ireland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to address these issues

How: Agreement Provisions

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Q5 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Economy Northern Ireland
Context

There is a focus on economic growth for the next Session of the Northern Ireland Assembly, as less money will be coming from GB.

Question

May I urge the Secretary of State to be crystal clear to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland politicians that there will be less money coming from GB, so there needs to be revenue raising and a sole focus on economic growth for the next Session of the Northern Ireland Assembly?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that economic growth is the answer to many of the questions that the Executive and the Assembly are facing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific clarity or commitment regarding funding

How: Economic Growth

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Q6 Jim Allister TUV North Antrim
Northern Ireland
Context

The Secretary of State is talking up the Belfast agreement, but ignoring that its primary pledge of no constitutional change without consent has been trashed by the Windsor framework.

Question

Does he agree that in any marking of the end of violence a key date is 1994, when the main violence perpetrators, the IRA, finally woke up to reality and declared a ceasefire?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I do not accept the hon. and learned Gentleman's argument in relation to the Good Friday agreement.

Not addressed: Acknowledgment of Windsor framework impact

How: Rejection Of Argument

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Q7 Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry
Northern Ireland
Context

There is recognition that there was always an alternative to violence, which was finally achieved when the Good Friday agreement was negotiated and signed.

Question

Does he agree that in any marking of the end of violence a key date is 1994, when the main violence perpetrators, the IRA, finally woke up to reality and declared a ceasefire?

Answer from Hilary Benn

I say to the hon. Gentleman that there was always an alternative to violence—always.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific recognition of 1994 ceasefire

How: Recognition Of Alternatives

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