The Nature of Checks and Balances Built Into The GFA of 1998

            AS POLITICS: Module 1: CCEA PAST PAPER QUESTION:.
             With reference to Source A and any other material you have studied, discuss the nature of checks and balances built into the Northern Ireland Assembly by the GFA in 1998.
             The principle of checks and balances is defined simply as being an instrument, which promotes openness and assures other objective such as fairness and controlling corruption, one of the fears of Lord Acton, who described the need for checks and balances due to the fact that,.
             "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.".
             This principle plays an important role not only in our society, but also through the Belfast Agreement. It is pertinent here due to the religious divide not only amongst Unionists and Nationalists in the community, but also within the Assembly, where the division has also become institutionalised. Bertie Aherne defines the need for checks and balances.
             "There are checks and balances- it is not possible to do everything for everyone because there are conflicting positions.".
             The nature of checks and balances within the Good Friday Agreement are apparent within its clauses, as I will assess. .
             Source A gives the reader one primary aspect of checks and balances within the agreement, in the contentious issue affecting the relations between Bairbre De Brun, Health minister and Dr Joe Hendron, Committee Chairman. This is an example of how individual ministers can keep a check on one another, by opposing De Brun and he outlines his motion as,.
             "Deep concerns about primary care provisions.".
             This nature of checks and balances is shown in the Agreement under strand one, which states that ministers need their decisions endorsed by the respective committees and the Assembly as a whole. .
             The inter-committee nature of checks and balances is laid out in the Agreement, where ministers from within committees can act as a restraint to the chairperson or the respective minister of that department.