New Ireland Forum

The NIF was established in April 1983 by Garret Fitzgerald in an attempt to seek an agreed approach on Northern Ireland among nationalists on the Island. The four main Nationalist parties attended: Fianna Fáil (FF), Fine Gael (FG), Irish Labour Party (ILP), and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). The attempt at a joint approach was not, however, fully achieved. The NIF produced a report in May 1984. The report advanced the option of a United Ireland, but also detailed a federal arrangement and joint authority between the British and Irish governments. Although the report was rejected by Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister, it did pave the way for the Anglo-Irish Agreement of November 1985.