Executive of the 1974 Northern Ireland Assembly facts for kids

The Northern Ireland Executive was a special government for Northern Ireland. It was set up after the elections in 1973. This government was different because it was a power-sharing executive. This means that different political groups, who usually disagreed, worked together to lead Northern Ireland.

The Executive started on 1 January 1974. It was the local government for Northern Ireland. But it only lasted a short time, ending on 28 May 1974.

How the Executive Was Formed

Elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly happened on 28 June 1973. After these elections, leaders met to decide how to form a new government. On 21 November, they reached an agreement called the Sunningdale Agreement. This agreement created a special team of leaders from different parties. These parties agreed to work together. The Executive officially started on 1 January 1974.

Important people in this new government included:

• Brian Faulkner: He was the Chief Executive. He had been the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland before.
• Gerry Fitt: He was the Deputy Chief Executive. He was the leader of the SDLP.
• John Hume: He later won a Nobel Peace Prize. He was the Minister for Commerce.
• Oliver Napier: He was the leader of the Alliance Party. He was the Legal Minister.

Challenges and Collapse of the Executive

The Executive faced many challenges. The UUP, one of the main parties, was very divided. Many of its members did not like the idea of sharing power. For a long time, unionists had been against sharing power with the Irish nationalist minority. This new way of governing caused a lot of arguments within the UUP.

Other big problems included:

• Internment: This was when people could be put in prison without a trial.
• Policing: How the police force should be run.
• Council of Ireland: A plan for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to work together on some issues.

Because of these disagreements and a big protest called the Ulster Workers' Council strike, the Executive and the Assembly stopped working. Brian Faulkner resigned as Chief Executive on 28 May 1974. This caused the whole government to collapse.

Chief Executive of the 1974 Executive

Brian Faulkner became the Chief Executive in January 1974. He led the power-sharing government with the SDLP and the Alliance Party. This partnership was agreed upon at the Sunningdale Conference.

However, many people within his own party, the UUP, were against this power-sharing idea. Also, a major protest called the Ulster Workers' Council strike put a lot of pressure on the government. Because of these issues, the Executive and the Assembly collapsed on 28 May 1974. Brian Faulkner then resigned from his role.

After this, Brian Faulkner formed a new political group called the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. They took part in the 1975 Constitutional Convention Elections. However, they only won 5 seats, and no new Chief Executive was chosen to replace him.

Members of the 1974 Northern Ireland Executive

Here is a list of the people who were part of the 1974 Northern Ireland Executive:

See also

• Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)
• Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly elected in 1973
• 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election
• History of Northern Ireland