The agreement was reached after many years of complex discussions, proposals and compromises. Many people have made excellent contributions. Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern were then the leaders of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The talks were led by US Special Envoy George Mitchell. [3] The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, was signed on Good Friday, April 10, 1998. It consists of two closely related agreements, the British-Irish Agreement and the Multiparty Agreement. It led to the establishment of a de decentralised system of government in Northern Ireland and the creation of many new institutions such as the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council. He spoke with David Andrews, the Irish Foreign Secretary. Shortly after the ceremony, at 10:30.m., the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, signed the declaration formally amending Articles 2 and 3 of the Irish Constitution. He then announced to the Dáil that the British-Irish Agreement had entered into force (including certain agreements additional to the Belfast Agreement).
[7] [19] In the Republic, voters voted on the Nineteenth Amendment to the Irish Constitution. .