Letter from British and Irish governments to the political parties in Northern Ireland (Saturday morning)

  • Country/entity
    Ireland
    United Kingdom
    Northern Ireland
  • Region
    Europe and Eurasia
    Europe and Eurasia
    Europe and Eurasia
  • Agreement name
    Letter from British and Irish governments to the political parties in Northern Ireland (Saturday morning)
  • Date
    6 May 2000
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
    Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( Northern Ireland Conflict (1968 - 1998) )
  • Stage
    Implementation/renegotiation
  • Conflict nature
    Government/territory
  • Peace process
    Northern Ireland peace process
  • Parties
    British and Irish governments
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    This was one of a number of agreements signed between the 5th and 6th of May 2000 which were part of an agreed 'choreography' between the British and Irish governments and the Northern Irish parties in the talks process and the IRA, relating to a log-jam in the talks process relating to decommissioning. This Letter from British and Irish governments to the political parties in Northern Ireland sets out the governments' proposals necessary to secure full implementation of the Good Friday agreement by June 2001.


Groups

  • Children/youth

    No specific mention.

  • Disabled persons

    No specific mention.

  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group

    No specific mention.

  • Religious groups

    No specific mention.

  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons

    No specific mention.

  • Social class

    No specific mention.


Gender

  • Women, girls and gender

    No specific mention.

  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)

    No specific mention.

  • State configuration

    No specific mention.

  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation

    No specific mention.

  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)

    No specific mention.

  • Elections

    No specific mention.

  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution

    No specific mention.


Power sharing

  • Political power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Territorial power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing

    No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general

    No specific mention.

  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation
    Page 1, Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity,
    As has already been announced, incorporation of the EHCR into British and Irish domestic law will take effect from October 2000. The British government has already invited the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to advise on the scope for defining rights supplementary to the convention...

    Page 1, Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity,
    ...The British government will ratify the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages by September 2000, and publish within six months an action plan for implementing the charter. Technical discussions on the steps required further to extend TG4 reception in Northern Ireland will continue. Other measures will also be taken, including a two-year Irish-language TV and film production pilot scheme, which will start by April 2001.
  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship

    No specific mention.

  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication
    Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
    Page 1, Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity
    ...The British government will ratify the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages by September 2000, and publish within six months an action plan for implementing the charter. Technical discussions on the steps required further to extend TG4 reception in Northern Ireland will continue. Other measures will also be taken, including a two-year Irish-language TV and film production pilot scheme, which will start by April 2001.
  • Mobility/access

    No specific mention.

  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI
    Rights institutions→NHRI→Mentions of NHRI
    Page 1, Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity
    As has already been announced, incorporation of the EHCR into British and Irish domestic law will take effect from October 2000. The British government has already invited the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to advise on the scope for defining rights supplementary to the convention. Under the legislation which came into effect in January, all designated public authorities in Northern Ireland will begin to have equality schemes in place from July 1st, 2000.

    Page 1, Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity
    ...The Irish Commission on Human Rights will be established by the Irish Government in July 2000 so that the joint committee of both human rights commissions required under the agreement will therefore be established by the end of July 2000.
  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law
    Justice sector reform→Criminal justice and emergency law→Criminal Justice System reform
    Page 2, Policing and justice
    ...The British government has already announced a six-month consultation process on the Criminal Justice Review to end in September, so the government will announce its decisions on implementation in October 2000. Legislation, and a detailed timetable for implementation, will be published by April 2001.
  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts

    No specific mention.

  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business

    No specific mention.

  • Taxation

    No specific mention.

  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights

    No specific mention.

  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage
    Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Intangible
    Page 1, Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity
    ...The British government will ratify the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages by September 2000, and publish within six months an action plan for implementing the charter. Technical discussions on the steps required further to extend TG4 reception in Northern Ireland will continue. Other measures will also be taken, including a two-year Irish-language TV and film production pilot scheme, which will start by April 2001.
  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees

    No specific mention.

  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police
    Page 2, Policing and justice
    Legislation to implement the Patten report will, subject to Parliament, be enacted by November 2000. The new Policing Board will be appointed in January 2001 and will assume its responsibilities in April 2001. A new independent police recruitment agency will be established, and the first process for recruits to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland will start in April 2001...
  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
    Page 1, Security
    The British government will progressively take all the necessary steps to secure as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements in Northern Ireland, consistent with the level of threat. It will report regularly on the steps taken and will consult with the Irish Government, and the political parties as appropriate, on measures necessary to respond to any continuing paramilitary activity. In particular, both governments will continue to oppose with resolute and determined action any group that uses or threatens violence to disrupt the peace process, taking whatever measures within the law are justified by the threat.
  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon

    No specific mention.

  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Prisoner release
    Page 2, Prisoners
    It is intended that, in accordance with the Good Friday agreement, all remaining prisoners qualifying for early release will be released by July 28th, 2000. Measures will continue to be taken to facilitate the reintegration of prisoners into the community, and to address related issues.
  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims
    Page 1, Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity
    ...Both governments will continue to take measures and develop programmes to support the victims of violence and their families...
  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


Implementation

  • UN signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Enforcement mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    CAIN Web Service
    https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/events/peace/docs/bi060500.htm

Letter from the British and Irish governments to the political parties in Northern Ireland on (the morning of) Saturday 6 May 2000

This letter, sent on Saturday morning, sets out the governments' proposals necessary to secure full implementation of the agreement by June 2001, in addition to those already set out in our statement.

Rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity

As has already been announced, incorporation of the EHCR into British and Irish domestic law will take effect from October 2000.

The British government has already invited the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to advise on the scope for defining rights supplementary to the convention.

Under the legislation which came into effect in January, all designated public authorities in Northern Ireland will begin to have equality schemes in place from July 1st, 2000.

The Irish Commission on Human Rights will be established by the Irish Government in July 2000 so that the joint committee of both human rights commissions required under the agreement will therefore be established by the end of July 2000.

Both governments will continue to take measures and develop programmes to support the victims of violence and their families.

The British government will ratify the Council of Europe Charter on Regional or Minority Languages by September 2000, and publish within six months an action plan for implementing the charter.

Technical discussions on the steps required further to extend TG4 reception in Northern Ireland will continue.

Other measures will also be taken, including a two-year Irish-language TV and film production pilot scheme, which will start by April 2001.

Security

The British government will progressively take all the necessary steps to secure as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements in Northern Ireland, consistent with the level of threat.

It will report regularly on the steps taken and will consult with the Irish Government, and the political parties as appropriate, on measures necessary to respond to any continuing paramilitary activity.

In particular, both governments will continue to oppose with resolute and determined action any group that uses or threatens violence to disrupt the peace process, taking whatever measures within the law are justified by the threat.

Policing and justice

Legislation to implement the Patten report will, subject to Parliament, be enacted by November 2000.

The new Policing Board will be appointed in January 2001 and will assume its responsibilities in April 2001.

A new independent police recruitment agency will be established, and the first process for recruits to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland will start in April 2001.

The British government has already announced a six-month consultation process on the Criminal Justice Review to end in September, so the government will announce its decisions on implementation in October 2000.

Legislation, and a detailed timetable for implementation, will be published by April 2001.

Prisoners

It is intended that, in accordance with the Good Friday agreement, all remaining prisoners qualifying for early release will be released by July 28th, 2000.

Measures will continue to be taken to facilitate the reintegration of prisoners into the community, and to address related issues.

We are writing in similar terms to the leaders of other parties represented in the Assembly and of the UDP.