In 1963 Ireland made an explicit request for admission to the European Community, while relations with other states intensified, including Northern Ireland. But in 1965 the trade deficit grew due to lower exports and strikes began in Ireland, especially in the industrial sector. Between 1966 and 1968, after the change of the premier, who was now Linch, there was an increase in trade and commercial agreements, but the desired improvements did not occur.
According to Abbreviationfinder, an acronym site which also features history of Ireland, a reform on the electoral law and one in the university field were proposed. In a climate of strikes and restrictions, the 1969 elections were held which saw the ruling party prevail. But Southern Ireland remained involved in the profound crisis that assailed the Northern one, where there was now the civil war, due to the exacerbation of the incomprehension between Catholics and Protestants.
In 1972 with popular referendum the entry into the European Community was decided. In 1976, following a serious crisis, which came after conflicts between the two main parties, the Labor Party, the “Fine Gael” and the “Fianna Fail”, the president of the republic in charge, O’Dalaigh, was forced to resign. And 1976 continued to experience difficulties in the economic field and with the European Community and in relations with Ulster, following the assassination of the British ambassador in Dublin, E. Biggs, which took place in London in late July. The new president was elected in the person of Fr. Hillery and an economic, scientific and technical cooperation agreement was concluded with Moscow.
On 26 May 1977 Hillery dissolved the Irish Parliament (Dail) and on 16 June political elections were held, won by Fianna Fail, whose leader J. Lynch formed the new government on 5 July.
Between 1977 and 1979 the economic situation worsened due to the international recession. Then the various disagreements within the party itself forced Lynch to resign and in his place was appointed C. Haughey, another member of the party, whose defeat was decreed in the political elections of 1981. G. Fitzgerald, with the support of the Labor, became prime minister; for only six months, because due to strongly negative economic conditions, first of all the sharp rise in unemployment, the new government fell. After other elections and another government, December 1982 came with Fitzgerald again head of the government, but coalition. He improved relations with Great Britain, with which he developed a plan for the unification of the two Ireland.
In May 1984 another improved plan was proposed which offered two alternatives: either to establish a federal state or a joint Anglo-Irish government in Ulster, and on this second form, amid tension, protests and attacks, it was reached in November 1985. In the same year the secularization of the state began, which proposed the clear separation of the spheres of competence between the Church and the State.
In January 1987 there were cuts in public spending; dissensions occurred between the two coalition parties and the Labor withdrew from the government. Fitzgerald’s resignation was consequent as well as the early elections of the following February. The sharp decline in Fitzgerald’s party caused the changing of the guard with A. Dukes.
A new minority government headed by Haughey was launched. And in 1988, with other austerity measures, the situation saw some progress in increasing production and decreasing the budget deficit.
In the presidential elections of November 1990, Mary Robinson, candidate of Labor and the Worker’s Party, was elected president of the republic, and the first woman to assume this position. As an anti-traditionalist, therefore, he declared himself in favor of abortion, divorce and liberalization of the sale of contraceptives; but she was also very attentive to human rights and civil liberties.
On June 18, 1992, a popular referendum proved favorable to the Maastricht Treaty on European unity. In February 1992 he took turns both at the head of the party and in the post of Prime Minister A. Reynolds, who again launched a coalition government. Soon, however, he was involved in a financial scandal a few years earlier and had to abandon the government team. Other early elections took place in November; they were won by the Labor Party and the Progressive Democrats. In January 1993 the government was formed by Reynolds; Deputy Prime Minister was Labor leader D. Spring.
Among his first important initiatives was that of the devaluation of the currency to strengthen exports. The sale of condoms was allowed and homosexuality among adults decriminalized.
In November 1994, Labor withdrew from the government following the appointment of a judge known to be conservative to the Supreme Court. In December the elections brought Premier J. Bruton to the coalition government.
During the previous government, chaired by Reynolds, there had been some relaxation in relations between Ulster and Great Britain. The latter had vented the possibility of renouncing its sovereignty over Northern Ireland. So much so that the IRA (Irish Republican Army) had decreed, on August 31, 1994, the ceasefire; then discontinued in 1996 and then again restored in 1997.
In June 1997 other elections and another coalition, but center-right. Premier was Ahern. A few months later there was the changing of the guard to the presidency of the republic. Mary Mc Aleese was elected to replace Mary Robinson who had left office early to take on the very important role of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Negotiations on the Ulster question were important, which took place with the mediation of envoys from other nations, such as from the United States G. Mitchell. Great Britain demanded the complete demilitarization of the IRA and this request was supported by Ahern in 1999. There was also the negotiation of the unification of the two Ireland and for this purpose an Anglo-Irish Council was established to guarantee collaboration between the two countries.