Sign in
☰
People MPsHouse of LordsGovernmentOppositionPartiesCommittees Votes Commons votesLords votesVotes by issueTopicsStats & rankingsParliament in numbers Legislation BillsEarly day motionsPetitions Elections Election resultsConstituenciesWho is my MP? Scotland OverviewMSPsScottish GovernmentVotesBillsMotionsCommitteesConstituencies & regionsElections Search Sign in

Motion · S6M-08419 · 27 Mar 2023

The 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

Lodged by Paul O'Kane Standard Motion 41 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament recognises the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which was signed on 10 April 1998; considers that the Agreement effectively brought to an end 30 years of violence known as "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, Ireland and Great Britain; acknowledges that the Agreement is made up of the Multi-Party Agreement between the UK and Irish governments and political parties in Northern Ireland, and the British-Irish Agreement between the UK and Irish governments, and both were approved, by what it considers were substantial majorities, in referendums in Northern Ireland and Ireland on 22 May 1998; considers that issues relating to sovereignty, governance, discrimination, military and paramilitary groups, justice and policing were central to the agreement; further considers the Agreement to be the cornerstone of what it sees as the peace that is evident today in Northern Ireland and enjoyed by those who live there, especially young people who have grown up knowing nothing else; acknowledges what it sees as the important contribution of peace makers from all the communities and governments represented in the Agreement, in particular John Hume of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and David Trimble of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), who were awarded The Nobel Peace Prize 1998, and also the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Labour Party politician, Mo Mowlam, as well as the Government of Ireland, the European Union, the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, founded by Monica McWilliams and Pearl Sagar, and the Government of the United States of America, represented by Senator George Mitchell; believes that peace in Northern Ireland is of deep importance to people in Scotland, many of whom have family and friends in Northern Ireland or have lost loved ones in The Troubles; acknowledges the present challenges in restoring the power-sharing executive and institutions built by the Agreement; sends good wishes to all involved in events marking what it considers this important anniversary; celebrates peace, reconciliation and forgiveness across communities and across these islands, and supports work to protect the peace secured in April 1998 and to look to the future with renewed hope.

Supporters (41)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.