a power-sharing executive
In January 1974, the British Prime Minister Edward Heath set up a power-sharing executive which involved representatives from both the Republic and the North of Ireland as well as Great Britain in the governance of the North. However, this was brought down by the concerted efforts of the Protestant loyalists.
• Towards agreement • On April 10 1998, the Good Friday Agreement, known also as the Belfast Agreement emerged. This agreement assures the loyalist community that Northern Ireland “remains part of the United Kingdom and shall not cease to be so without the consent(同意) of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland.”
The pro-agreement result was greeted at the time with relief by supporters of the agreement. However, the scale of sceptical and anti-agreement sentiment in the unionist community, their continued misgivings over aspects of the agreement, and differing expectations from the Agreement on the part of the two communities were to cause difficulties in the following years.