Policy background
- The Fresh Start Agreement was reached on 17 November 2015 after 10 weeks of cross party talks between the UK Government, the five largest parties of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Government of Ireland on matters for which they have responsibility, in accordance with the three-stranded approach reflected in the 1998 Belfast Agreement. The Fresh Start Agreement followed a period of political instability in Northern Ireland. This largely stemmed from two disputes within the Northern Ireland Executive: an impasse on implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and the alleged involvement of members of the Provisional IRA in a murder. This had led to a breakdown in relations within the Executive leading to a real risk of the devolved institutions collapsing and a return to direct rule. The aim of the cross-party talks was to secure the implementation of the December 2014 Stormont House Agreement1 and deal with the impact of continued paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland. The Fresh Start Agreement seeks to make progress towards fulfilling these objectives.
- There are a number of aspects of the Fresh Start Agreement which require UK legislation, including those elements that are contained within this Act. The Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Act 2015 gave effect to the commitments in the Agreement on the implementation of welfare reform.
