Complicated governance arrangements

Led by Newcastle University, working with Durham and Birmingham universities, the 18 month project is investigating how communities in Northern Ireland will be affected by the changed relationship between Britain and the European Union (EU), once Brexit has taken place.

Funded by an ESRC Innovation Grant, the research team will also work with civil society and community groups to explore what potential there is for people in Northern Ireland to shape new governance arrangements.

Colin Murray, Reader at Newcastle Law School, explained:

“Even though the proposed withdrawal agreement negotiated by the Prime Minister has now been rejected by MPs, most of the options left on the table have significant implications for people living in Northern Ireland.

“Northern Ireland is already subject to complicated, and often malfunctioning, governance arrangements. Everything except remaining a member of the EU is likely to result in a more complex situation in relation to the citizenship, legal rights and identities of people living in Northern Ireland. This will make the governance of Northern Ireland even more distinctive.”

Anyone born in Northern Ireland – which is part of the UK – is entitled to an Irish passport as a result of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement 1997, which means that they will be able to retain EU citizenship after Brexit if they wish.

Additionally, the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 gave the Irish Government an advisory role in Northern Ireland affairs, maintained today through the British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference, although this involvement does not affect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as part of the UK.

Mr Murray added:

“The UK’s withdrawal from the EU will require some people living in Northern Ireland to align with new identities, such as becoming a dual national. It also could affect how they identify themselves politically, culturally, or nationally, alongside existing identities shaped by the conflict in Northern Ireland.

“The change in governance arrangements post-Brexit could affect the nature of society, citizenship and governance in Northern Ireland. Understanding if and how this is happening could influence and change ideas of governance in the 21^st century within and beyond the UK and could ultimately begin to re-shape deeply ingrained conceptions of identity in Northern Ireland.”