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Abstract of Important Events -
Reforms, 1968 and later
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Text and Research: Martin Melaugh
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Introduction
This is one of a number of files which provide a very brief abstract of important events during the Northern Ireland conflict. Some of the events are dealt with in greater detail elsewhere (check, for example, Key Events and the corresponding entry in the chronology).
The reforms introduced to answer Catholic grievances, 1968 and later
The first reforms and policy
initiatives were announced towards the end of 1968 and the following
years saw a number of provisions introduced to address allegations
of discrimination and malpractice on the part of public agencies
and government departments in Northern Ireland. Some of the reforms
involved merely a change in legislation and quickly achieved the
desired effect, such as those reforms related to universal adult
suffrage in local government elections. Other reforms have proved
more problematic and appear to have had less of an impact, for
example, despite several pieces of legislation aimed at achieving
fair employment, the level of Catholic male unemployment has remained
much higher than the Protestant level.
The series of reforms were opposed by
a large section of unionist opinion, indeed the issue of reform
was to see the fragmentation of the Unionist Party which had ruled
Northern Ireland for 50 years. There was also violent opposition
in working-class Protestant areas to some of the measures. On
11 October serious riots followed protests by Loyalists against
the disbandment of the 'B Specials'. Later Loyalists open fire
on officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) (who were blocking
their route to a Catholic area of Belfast) killing the first RUC
officer to die in the present 'Troubles'.
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