The Anglo-Irish agreement, 1985, was a treaty which aimed to bring about an end to the troubles in northern Ireland. Signed between the u.k. and Ireland, it gave an advisory role to the Irish government while northern Ireland was to remain as part of the u.k. constitutionally until such a time as a majority voted to join Ireland. It set out conditions for a devolved termed consensus government.
Three possible solutions brought forward by the New Ireland Forum, 1983-84, were a federal united Ireland, a confederal united Ireland and joint sovereignty. A confederation being described as a union of two sovereign groups for purposes of common action. Said to be usually created by a treaty, confederations of states are believed to be established in order to deal with issues such as defence, currency and trade etc.
The British-Irish intergovernmental agreement superceded the results of the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference. What proceeded was the as called good Friday agreement. Criticised by various politicians, the Belfast agreement, as it has become known to some, is said to have created a number of institutions between the u.k., Ireland and northern Ireland. The judiciary and policing are mentioned. Also conditions regarding sovereignty, civil rights and other criteria. The Belfast agreement was criticised for being vaguely worded and ambiguous, especially with regard to paramilitaries and policing. The exact terms of the agreement are not easily accessible. The DUP are believed to have said that they opposed the agreement.
The constructs of the agreement are in favour of a British united Ireland. As part of the agreement the British government repealed the as called Government of Ireland act, 1920 which had established a partitioned Ireland, and asserted a territorial claim over all of Ireland.