Anglo-Irish Agreement was a pact signed in 1985 by the United Kingdom and Ireland. It provided for the Republic of Ireland to have an advisory role—but no direct powers—in Northern Ireland’s government. Under the agreement, British and Irish ministers met regularly to discuss legal, political, security, and cross-border issues relating to Northern Ireland, which had been controlled by the United Kingdom. The agreement also confirmed that the political position of Northern Ireland could not be changed without the consent of the majority of its people. A peace agreement in 1998 established new government bodies for Northern Ireland and brought an end to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. See also Northern Ireland (History) .
