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THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE 1989 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, NOTING ITS UNIQUE SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE (STV) ELECTORAL SYSTEM. IT EXPLORES THE CAMPAIGN, CANDIDATES, ISSUES AND RESULTS IT CONCLUDES THAT THE RESULTS WERE QUITE PREDICTABLE AND THAT THIS TENDED TO REDUCE INTEREST IN THE ELECTION. PERSONALITY AND PRECEDENT PREDOMINATED.

IN OCTOBER 1982, THE ELECTORS OF NORTHERN IRELAND VOTED FOR 78 REPRESENTATIVES TO THE NEW NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY-A PRODUCT OF THE SO-CALLED 'PRIOR INITIATIVE'. APPOINTED AS SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND IN 1981, JAMES PRIOR HOPED TO ENCOURAGE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CIVIL STABILITY THROUGH A RESTORATION OF A MEASURE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT BASED ON AN INCREMENTAL PROCESS OF 'ROLLING DEVOLUTION'.1 'A FRAMEWORK FOR DEVOLUTION? IN APRIL 1982, THE MAIN FEATURES OF ROLLING DEVOLUTION WERE PRESENTED IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WHITE PAPER NORTHERN IRELAND: A FRAMEWORK FOR DEVOLUTION (1982). THE PROPOSALS INTENDED TO ... PROVIDE ELECTED REPRESENTIVES IN NORTHERN IRELAND WITH A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH TO AGREE HOW DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE EXERCISED IN NORTHERN IRELAND. THE FRAMEWORK ENABLES THOSE ELECTED TO PROCEED TO FULL DEVOLUTION AT THE PACE AND BY THE ROUTE WHICH BEST SUIT THEM ... THE GOVERNMENT HOPES THAT THE FRAMEWORK WILL ENABLE THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRELAND TO ESTABLISH A BASIS OF RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE IN EACH OTHER ON WHICH POLITICAL LIFE THERE CAN DEVELOP. THE PROPOSED ASSEMBLY WOULD BE UNICAMERAL AND ELECTED BY THE SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION, BASED ON THE EXISTING 12 WESTMINISTER CONSTITUENCIES. THE PRINCIPAL TASK OF THE ASSEMBLY WAS TO REACH AGREEMENT ON HOW POWERS MIGHT BE DEVOLVED TO NORTHERN IRELAND. DEVOLUTION OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE POWERS COULD BE ON A PARTIAL BASIS INVOLVING SPECIFIC AREAS OR ON A MPY: 1983