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NorthernIreland:ThePeaceProcess,OngoingChallenges,andU.S.Interests

UpdatedMay18,2021

CongressionalResearchService

R46259

NorthernIreland:ThePeaceProcess,OngoingChallenges,andU.S.Interests

SUMMARY

R46259

May18,2021

Between1969and1999,roughly3,500peoplediedasaresultofpoliticalviolenceinNorthern

KristinArchick

SpecialistinEuropean

Ireland,whichisoneoffourcomponent“nations”oftheUnitedKingdom(UK).Theconflict,

Affairs

oftenreferredtoas“theTroubles,”hasitsoriginsinthe1921divisionofIrelandandhas

reflectedastrugglebetweendifferentnational,cultural,andreligiousidentities.Protestantsin

NorthernIrelandlargelydefinethemselvesasBritishandsupportremainingpartoftheUK

(unionists).MostCatholicsinNorthernIrelandconsiderthemselvesIrish,andmanydesirea

unitedIreland(nationalists).

SuccessiveU.S.AdministrationsandmanyMembersofCongresshaveactivelysupportedtheNorthernIrelandpeaceprocess.Fordecades,theUnitedStateshasprovideddevelopmentaidthroughtheInternationalFundforIreland(IFI).Inrecentyears,congressionalhearingshavefocusedonthepeaceprocess,policereforms,humanrights,andaddressingNorthernIreland’slegacyofviolence(oftentermeddealingwiththepast).SomeMembersalsoareconcernedabouthow

Brexit—theUK’swithdrawalasamemberoftheEuropeanUnion(EU)inJanuary2020—isaffectingNorthernIreland.

ThePeaceAgreement:ProgresstoDateandOngoingChallenges

In1998,theUKandIrishgovernmentsandkeyNorthernIrelandpoliticalpartiesreachedanegotiatedpoliticalsettlement.TheresultingGoodFridayAgreement,orBelfastAgreement,recognizedthatachangeinNorthernIreland’sconstitutionalstatusaspartoftheUKcancomeaboutonlywiththeconsentofamajorityofthepeopleinNorthernIreland(aswellaswiththeconsentofamajorityinIreland).Theagreementcalledfordevolvedgovernment—thetransferofspecifiedpowersfromLondontoBelfast—withaNorthernIrelandAssemblyandExecutiveinwhichunionistandnationalistpartieswouldsharepower.Italsocontainedprovisionsondecommissioning(disarmament)ofparamilitaryweapons,policing,humanrights,UKsecuritynormalization(demilitarization),andthestatusofprisoners.

Despiteamuch-improvedsecuritysituationsince1998,fullimplementationofthepeaceagreementhasbeendifficult.Foryears,decommissioningandpolicereformswerekeystickingpointsthatgeneratedinstabilityinthedevolvedgovernment.In2007,thepro-BritishDemocraticUnionistParty(DUP)andSinnFein,thenationalistpoliticalpartytraditionallyassociatedwiththeIrishRepublicanArmy(IRA),reachedalandmarkpower-sharingdeal.Tensionsanddistrustpersisted,however.In2017,thedevolvedgovernmentledbytheDUPandSinnFeincollapsed,promptingsnapAssemblyelectionsamidseveralcontentiousregionalissuesanduneaseinNorthernIrelandaboutBrexit.Negotiationstoreestablishthedevolvedgovernmentrepeatedlystalled.TheDUPandSinnFeinagreedtoformanewdevolvedgovernmentinJanuary2020,butthelongimpasserenewedconcernsaboutthefragilityofthepeaceprocess.NorthernIrelandalsofacesanumberofbroadissuesinitssearchforpeaceandreconciliation,includingreducingsectariandivisions,dealingwiththepast,addressinglingeringconcernsaboutparamilitaryanddissidentactivity,andpromotingfurthereconomicdevelopment.InlateMarchandearlyApril2021,theoutbreakofriotsandunrestinpartsofNorthernIreland—widelycharacterizedastheworstviolenceinyears—highlightedmanyofthechallengesandunderlyingfaultlinesthatremaininNorthernIreland.

BrexitandNorthernIreland

BrexithasaddedtopoliticalandsocietaldivisionswithinNorthernIreland.Preventingahardborder(withcustomschecksandphysicalinfrastructure)ontheislandofIrelandwasakeyimperativeandamajorstumblingblockintheUK-EUwithdrawalnegotiations.Since1998,assecuritycheckpointsweredismantledinaccordancewiththepeaceagreementandbecauseboththeUKandIrelandbelongedtotheEUsinglemarketandcustomsunion,thecircuitous300-milelandborderontheislandofIrelandeffectivelydisappeared,helpingtopromotepeace,reconciliation,andadynamiccross-bordereconomy.Concernsaboutahardborderdevelopingmostlyrecededinlightofthepost-BrexitarrangementsforNorthernIrelandagreedtobytheUKandEU,butimplementingthesemeasures—whichbeganonJanuary1,2021—disruptedsometradebetweenNorthernIrelandandtherestoftheUK.CombinedwithadisputerelatedtoEUexportcontrolsonCoronavirusDisease2019(COVID-19)vaccinesthatcouldhaveimpactedNorthernIreland,theDUPandotherunionistsarguethatthepost-BrexitarrangementsforNorthernIrelandareuntenable.SuchtensionsoverBrexithaveexacerbatedasenseamongunioniststhattheirBritishidentityisunderthreatandfactoredintotheunrestinNorthernIrelandinearly2021.BrexitalsohasreneweddebateaboutNorthernIreland’sconstitutionalstatusandpromptedcallsfromSinnFeinandothersforaborderpoll,orreferendum,onwhetherNorthernIrelandshouldremainpartoftheUK.AlsoseeCRSReportR46730,

Brexit:Overview,Trade,andNorthernIreland,coordinatedbyDerekE.Mix.

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NorthernIreland:ThePeaceProcess,OngoingChallenges,andU.S.Interests

Contents

Overview

1

The1998PeaceAgreement

2

KeyElements

2

Implementation

3

DemocraticPower-SharingInstitutions

3

Decommissioning

4

Policing

4

SecurityNormalization

5

Rights,Safeguards,andEqualityofOpportunity

5

InitiativestoFurtherthePeaceProcess

6

RecentIssuesandOngoingChallenges

7

2017-2020CrisisintheDevolvedGovernment

7

March2017SnapAssemblyElections

7

ReestablishingtheDevolvedGovernment

8

SectarianDivisions

10

DealingwiththePast

11

RemainingParamilitaryIssuesandDissidentActivity

14

ParamilitaryConcerns

14

TheDissidentThreat

15

EconomicDevelopmentandEqualOpportunity

15

ResurgenceofRiotingandViolenceinMarch-April2021

17

ImplicationsofBrexit

18

TheIrishBorderandtheWithdrawalAgreement

18

Post-BrexitArrangementsforNorthernIreland

19

OngoingTensionsandChallenges

20

EconomicConcerns

23

ConstitutionalStatusandBorderPollProspects

24

U.S.PolicyandCongressionalInterests

25

SupportforthePeaceProcess

25

ViewsonBrexitandNorthernIreland

26

InternationalFundforIreland

27

Figures

Figure1.MapofNorthernIreland(UK)andtheRepublicofIreland

2

Tables

Table1.NorthernIreland:MembersoftheLegislativeAssembly(MLAs)

8

Contacts

AuthorInformation

28

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NorthernIreland:ThePeaceProcess,OngoingChallenges,andU.S.Interests

CongressionalResearchService

NorthernIreland:ThePeaceProcess,OngoingChallenges,andU.S.Interests

Overview

Between1969and1999,roughly3,500peoplediedasaresultofpoliticalviolenceinNorthernIreland,whichisapartoftheUnitedKingdom(UK).Theconflict,oftenreferredtoas“theTroubles,”hasitsmodernoriginsinthe1921divisionofIreland(seemapin

Figure1

).1Atitscore,theconflictreflectsastrugglebetweendifferentnational,cultural,andreligiousidentities.ProtestantsinNorthernIreland(48%ofthepopulation)largelydefinethemselvesasBritishandsupportNorthernIreland’scontinuedincorporationintheUK(unionists).CatholicsinNorthernIreland(45%ofthepopulation)considerthemselvesIrish,andmanyCatholicsdesireaunitedIreland(nationalists).Inthepast,moremilitantunionists(loyalists)andmoremilitantnationalists(republicans)werewillingtouseforceandresorttoviolencetoachievetheirgoals.2

TheTroublesweresparkedinlate1968,whenacivilrightsmovementwaslaunchedinNorthernIrelandmostlybyCatholics,whohadlongfaceddiscriminationinareassuchaselectoralrights,housing,andemployment.Thiscivilrightsmovementwasmetwithviolencebysomeunionists,loyalists,andthepolice,whichinturnpromptedarmedactionbynationalistsandrepublicans.

IncreasingchaosandescalatingviolenceledtheUKgovernmenttodeploytheBritishArmyonthestreetsofNorthernIrelandin1969andtoimposedirectrulefromLondonin1972(between1921and1972,NorthernIrelandhaditsownregionalgovernment).

Foryears,theUKandIrishgovernmentssoughttofacilitateanegotiatedpoliticalsettlementtotheconflictinNorthernIreland.MultipartytalksbeganinJune1996,ledbyformerSenateMajorityLeaderGeorgeMitchell,whowasservingasU.S.PresidentBillClinton’sspecialadviseronIreland.Aftermanyupsanddowns,theUKandIrishgovernmentsandtheNorthernIrelandpoliticalpartiesparticipatinginthepeacetalksannouncedanagreementonApril10,1998.ThisaccordbecameknownastheGoodFridayAgreement(forthedayonwhichitwasconcluded);itisalsoknownastheBelfastAgreement.3

DespitethesignificantdecreaseinthelevelsofviolencesincetheGoodFridayAgreement,implementationofthepeaceaccordhasbeenchallenging.TensionspersistamongNorthernIreland’spoliticalpartiesandbetweentheunionistandnationalistcommunitiesmorebroadly.NorthernIrelandremainsalargelydividedsocietyandcontinuestograpplewithanumberofissuesinitssearchforpeaceandreconciliation.Sectariandifferencesflareperiodically,andaddressingNorthernIreland’slegacyofviolence(oftentermeddealingwiththepast)isparticularlycontroversial.ManyanalystsassessthatpeaceandsecurityinNorthernIrelandisfragile.TheUK’swithdrawalfromtheEuropeanUnion(EU)inJanuary2020—orBrexit—hasaddedtodivisionswithinNorthernIreland,ashighlightedbytheriotsandunrestthateruptedinpartsofNorthernIrelandinlateMarchandearlyApril2021.Brexitcontinuestoposechallenges

In1921,themostlyCatholic,southernpartofIrelandwonindependencefromtheUnitedKingdom(UK),resultingintheestablishmentoftheIrishFreeStatein1922withintheBritishCommonwealth.TheIrishgovernmentformallydeclaredIrelandarepublicin1948andsevereditsremainingconstitutionallinkswiththeUK.TheRepublicofIreland,withapopulationofroughly4.9million,consistsof26countiesandencompassesaboutfive-sixthsoftheislandofIreland;NorthernIreland,withapproximately1.9millionpeople,comprisessixcountiesandencompassestheremainingone-sixthoftheisland.

ManyunionistsandloyalistsrefertothesixcountiesthattodaymakeupNorthernIrelandasUlster.Technicallyandhistorically,UlsteralsoincludesthethreenorthernmostcountiesoftheRepublicofIreland.

ThetextoftheGoodFridayAgreement(orBelfastAgreement)maybefoundathttp://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/peace/docs//agreement.htm.Theunionist/ProtestantcommunitytendstousethetermBelfastAgreement,viewingthenameGoodFridayAgreementasbiasedinfavorofthenationalist/Catholiccommunity.Forthepurposesofthisreport,thepeaceaccordisreferredtoastheGoodFridayAgreement,becausethisisthenamemorewidelyusedandrecognizedintheUnitedStates.

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forNorthernIreland’speaceprocessandeconomyandhasrenewedquestionsaboutNorthernIreland’sconstitutionalstatusaspartoftheUK.

SuccessiveU.S.AdministrationsandmanyMembersofCongresshaveactivelysupportedtheNorthernIrelandpeaceprocessandencouragedthefullimplementationoftheGoodFridayAgreement,aswellassubsequentaccordsandinitiativestofurtherthepeaceprocessandpromotelong-termreconciliation.SomeMembershavebeenparticularlyinterestedinpolicereformsandhumanrightsinNorthernIreland.Since1986,theUnitedStateshasprovideddevelopmentaidthroughtheInternationalFundforIreland(IFI)asameanstoencourageeconomicdevelopmentandfosterreconciliation.SomeMembersofCongressalsohavedemonstratedaninterestinhowBrexitwillaffectNorthernIrelandintheyearsahead.

Figure1.MapofNorthernIreland(UK)andtheRepublicofIreland

Source:GraphiccreatedbyCRSusingdatafromEsri(2017).

The1998PeaceAgreement

KeyElements

TheGoodFridayAgreementisamultilayeredandinterlockingdocument,consistingofapoliticalsettlementreachedbyNorthernIreland’spoliticalpartiesandaninternationaltreatybetweentheUKandIrishgovernments.AtthecoreoftheGoodFridayAgreementistheconsentprinciple—thatis,achangeinNorthernIreland’sstatuscancomeaboutonlywiththeconsentofthemajorityofNorthernIreland’speople,aswellaswiththeconsentofamajorityinIreland.AlthoughtheagreementacknowledgedthatasubstantialsectionofNorthernIreland’spopulationandamajorityontheislanddesiredaunitedIreland,itrecognizedthatthemajorityofpeoplein

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NorthernIrelandwishedtoremainpartoftheUK.Ifthepreferenceofthismajorityweretochange,theagreementassertedthattheUKandIrishgovernmentswouldhaveabindingobligationtobringaboutthewishofthepeople;thus,theagreementincludedprovisionsforfuturepollstobeheldinNorthernIrelandonitsconstitutionalstatus,shouldeventswarrant.

TheGoodFridayAgreementsetoutaframeworkfordevolvedgovernment—thetransferofspecifiedpowersoverlocalgovernancefromLondontoBelfast—andcalledforestablishingaNorthernIrelandAssemblyandExecutiveinwhichunionistandnationalistpartieswouldsharepower(knownasStrandOne).TheGoodFridayAgreementalsocontainedprovisionsonseveralissuesviewedascentraltothepeaceprocess:decommissioning(disarmament)ofparamilitaryweapons,policing,humanrights,UKsecuritynormalization(demilitarization),andthestatusofprisoners.Negotiationsonmanyoftheseareashadbeenextremelycontentious.Expertsassertthatthefinalagreedtextthusreflectedsomedegreeof“constructiveambiguity”onsuchissues.

Inaddition,theGoodFridayAgreementcreatednew“North-South”and“East-West”institutions(StrandTwoandStrandThree,respectively).Amongthekeyinstitutionscalledforinthesetwostrands,aNorth-SouthMinisterialCouncilwasestablishedtoallowleadersinthenorthernandsouthernpartsoftheislandofIrelandtoconsultandcooperateoncross-borderissues.ABritish-IrishCouncilalsowasformedtodiscussmattersofregionalinterest;thecouncilcomprisesrepresentativesofthetwogovernmentsandthedevolvedadministrationsofNorthernIreland,Scotland,Wales,theChannelIslands,andtheIsleofMan.

Implementation

VotersinNorthernIrelandandtheRepublicofIrelandapprovedtheGoodFridayAgreementinseparatereferendumsonMay22,1998.Althoughconsiderableprogresshasbeenmadeinimplementingtheagreement,theprocesshasbeenarduous.Foryears,decommissioningandpolicereformswerekeystickingpointsthatcontributedtoinstabilityinNorthernIreland’sdevolvedgovernment.Sporadicviolencefromdissidentrepublicanandloyalistparamilitarygroupsthatrefusedtoacceptthepeaceprocessandsectarianstrifealsohelpedtofeedmistrustbetweentheunionistandnationalistcommunitiesandtheirrespectivepoliticalparties.

DemocraticPower-SharingInstitutions

Asnotedabove,theGoodFridayAgreementcalledforestablishinganewNorthernIrelandAssemblyandExecutive.ToensurethatneitherunionistsnornationalistscoulddominatetheAssembly,theagreementspecifiedthat“keydecisions”mustreceivecross-communitysupport.TheExecutivewouldbecomposedofafirstminister,deputyfirstminister,andotherministerswithdepartmentalresponsibilities(e.g.,health,education,jobs);positionswouldbeallocatedtopoliticalpartiesaccordingtopartystrengthintheAssembly.

Thefirstelectionstothenew108-memberNorthernIrelandAssemblytookplaceonJune25,1998.ThedevolutionofpowerfromLondontoBelfast,however,didnotfollowpromptlybecauseofunionistconcernsaboutdecommissioning,ortheparamilitaries’surrenderoftheirweapons.Following18monthsoffurthernegotiations,authorityoverlocalaffairswastransferredtotheNorthernIrelandAssemblyandExecutiveinDecember1999.Overthenextfewyears,theissueofdecommissioning—especiallybytheIrishRepublicanArmy(IRA)—contributedtothesuspensionofthedevolvedgovernmentandthereinstatementofdirectrulefromLondonseveraltimesbetween2000and2002.(See

“Decommissioning,”

below.)

InMay2007,afteranearlyfive-yearsuspension,NorthernIreland’sdevolvedgovernmentwasrestoredfollowingalandmarkdealbetweentheDemocraticUnionistParty(DUP)—which

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stronglysupportsNorthernIreland’scontinuedintegrationaspartoftheUK—andSinnFein,thestaunchlynationalistpoliticalpartytraditionallyassociatedwiththeIRA.4TheDUPandSinnFeinhavebeenthelargestunionistandnationalistparties,respectively,inNorthernIrelandsince2003.The2007DUP-SinnFeindealpavedthewayforgreaterstabilityinNorthernIreland’sdevolvedgovernmentoverthenextdecade.RegularlyscheduledAssemblyelectionsin2011and2016producedsuccessivepower-sharinggovernments,alsoledbytheDUPandSinnFein.

Atthesametime,tensionspersistedwithinthedevolvedgovernmentandbetweentheunionistandnationalistcommunities.Variousincidents—includingprotestsin2012and2013overtheuseofflagsandemblems,a2014disputeoverwelfarereform,andthe2015arrestofaSinnFeinleaderinconnectionwiththemurderofaformerIRAmember—periodicallythreatenedthedevolvedgovernment’sstability.FollowingthecollapseofthedevolvedgovernmentandsnapAssemblyelectionsin2017,heightenedtensionsduetoBrexitandothercontentiousissueslargelystallednegotiationsonforminganewdevolvedgovernmentforalmostthreeyears.ThislongimpasserenewedconcernsaboutpoliticalstabilityandhighlighteddivisionsinNorthernIrelandpoliticsandsociety.(See

“2017-2020CrisisintheDevolvedGovernment,”

below.)

Decommissioning

Foryears,decommissioningofparamilitaryweaponswasaprominentchallengeintheimplementationoftheGoodFridayAgreement.Thetextoftheagreementstates,“thosewhoholdofficeshoulduseonlydemocratic,non-violentmeans,andthosewhodonotshouldbeexcludedorremovedfromoffice.”UnionistswereadamantthattheIRAmustfullydecommissionitsweapons.TheIRAhadbeenobservingacease-firesince1997,butitvieweddecommissioningastantamounttosurrenderandhadlongresistedsuchcalls.

ProgresstowardfullIRAdecommissioningwasslowandincremental.AkeymilestonecameinJuly2005,whentheIRAdeclaredanendtoitsarmedcampaignandinstructedallmemberstopursueobjectivesthrough“exclusivelypeacefulmeans.”5InSeptember2005,NorthernIreland’sIndependentInternationalCommissiononDecommissioning(IICD)announcedthattheIRAhadputallofitsarms“beyonduse,”assertingthattheIRAweaponrydismantledormadeinoperablematchedestimatesprovidedbythesecurityforces.6TheIICDalsoconfirmeddecommissioningbyotherrepublicangroupsandloyalistorganizations.TheIICDconcludeditsworkin2011.

Policing

AlthoughrecognizedasacentralelementinachievingacomprehensivepeaceinNorthernIreland,newpolicingstructuresandarrangementswereafrequentpointofcontentionbetweenunionistsandnationalists.In2001,anewPoliceServiceofNorthernIreland(PSNI)wasestablishedtoreplacetheRoyalUlsterConstabulary(RUC),NorthernIreland’sformer,92%Protestantpoliceforce.CatholicsviewedtheRUCasanenforcerofProtestantdomination,andhumanrightsorganizationsaccusedtheRUCofbrutalityandcollusionwithloyalistparamilitarygroups.DefendersoftheRUCpointedtoitstraditionofloyaltyanddisciplineanditsrecordinfightingterrorism.Inaccordancewithpolicingrecommendationsmadebyanindependentcommission(knownasthePattenCommission),increasingtheproportionofCatholicofficers

FrankMillar,“PaisleyReachesOutandGraspsCherishedPrize,”IrishTimes,March27,2007;MarkDavenport,“NIPoliticsMovesAwayfromEdge,”BBCNews,May8,2007.

“IRAStatementinFull,”BBCNews,July25,2005.

MarkDavenport,“IRAArms:WhatNextforNIPolitics?,”BBCNews,September26,2005.

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(from8%to30%in10years)wasakeygoalforthenewPSNI.Tohelpfulfillthisgoal,thePSNIintroduceda50-50Catholic/Protestantrecruitmentprocess.7

Forseveralyears,SinnFeinrefusedtoparticipateinthenewPolicingBoard,ademocraticoversightbody.ManyviewedSinnFein’sstanceasdiscouragingCatholicsfromjoiningthePSNIandpreventingthenationalistcommunityfromfullyacceptingthenewpoliceforce.In2007,however,aspartoftheprocesstorestorethedevolvedgovernment,SinnFeinmembersvotedtosupportthepoliceandjointhePolicingBoard.ExpertsviewedSinnFein’sdecisionashistoric,giventheIRA’straditionalviewofthepoliceasalegitimatetarget.In2010,theDUPandSinnFeinreachedanaccord(theHillsboroughAgreement)todevolvepolicingandjusticepowersfromLondontoBelfast(onwhichthepartieshadbeenunabletoagreeatthetimeoftheGoodFridayAgreement’ssigning).

In2011,the50-50recruitmentprocessforCatholicandProtestantPSNIofficersconcluded.Officialsassertedthatthe50-50processfulfilledthegoalssetoutbythePattenCommission(includingincreasingthenumberofCatholicofficersto30%).8Inrecentyears,concernsresurfacedthatnotenoughCatholicswereseekingtojointhePSNI;partlybecauseoflingeringsuspicionsaboutthepolicewithintheCatholic/nationalistcommunitybutalsobecauseoffearsthatCatholicpolicerecruitswerekeytargetsofdissidentrepublicans.In2017,thePSNIintroducedanumberofproceduralchangestohelpattractmoreCatholics(andmorewomen).9

SecurityNormalization

TheGoodFridayAgreementcalledfor“asearlyareturnaspossibletonormalsecurityarrangementsinNorthernIreland,”includingtheremovalofsecurityinstallations.InFebruary2007,thelastofmorethan100armoredwatchtowersinNorthernIrelandwasdismantled.InJuly2007,theBritishArmyendedits38-year-longmilitaryoperationinNorthernIreland.Althougharegulargarrisonof5,000BritishtroopsremainsbasedinNorthernIreland,Britishforcesnolongerhavearoleinpolicingandmaybedeployedworldwide.

Rights,Safeguards,andEqualityofOpportunity

InaccordancewiththeGoodFridayAgreement’sprovisionsrelatedtohumanrightsandequality,theUKgovernmentincorporatedtheEuropeanConventiononHumanRightsintoNorthernIrelandlawandestablishedanewHumanRightsCommissionandanewEqualityCommissionforNorthernIreland.Somenationalists,however,continuetopressformoreprogressintheareaofhumanrightsandequality.TheyarguethatNorthernIrelandneedsitsownBillofRights(considerationofwhichisprovidedforintheGoodFridayAgreement)andastand-aloneIrishLanguageActtogivetheIrishlanguagethesameofficialstatusasEnglishinNorthernIreland.TheGoodFridayAgreementcallsfortoleranceoflinguisticdiversityinNorthernIrelandandsupportfortheIrishlanguage.ThesubsequentSt.AndrewsAgreementof2006providedforanIrishLanguageAct,butthisissueremainscontroversial.

SeeANewBeginning:PolicinginNorthernIreland,ReportoftheIndependentCommissiononPolicingforNorthernIreland,September1999,athttp://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/police/patten/patten99.pdf.

“Police50-50RecruitingSystemIstoEnd,”BBCNews,March28,2011.

DeborahMcAleese,“TopOfficer’s‘DeepConcern’atLackofCatholicsSigningUpforPoliceCareerinNorthernIreland,”BelfastTelegraph,October23,2015;VincentKearney,“PSNIAimstoRecruit300NewOfficers,”BBC

News,October23,2017.

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InitiativestoFurtherthePeaceProcess

ManyanalystsviewimplementationofthemostimportantaspectsoftheGoodFridayAgreementascomplete.Since2013,however,theNorthernIrelandpoliticalpartiesandtheUKandIrishgovernmentshavemadeseveralattemptstoreducesectariantensionsandpromotereconcilia