Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989

In Northern Ireland, elections to local government had historically been dominated by the unionist majority due to Catholic nationalist disincentive to take part in elections. In 1974, in order to encourage more Catholic participation the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, Sinn Féin; which had been designated as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the Parliament of Northern Ireland in 1956, was removed from the list of proscribed organisations. They then started to gain seats in local government. In 1983, following the IRA Harrods bombing, the British government considered making Sinn Féin a proscribed organisation again alongside the Ulster Defence Association unionist paramilitary group. This proposal had support from the Democratic Unionist Party who claimed Sinn Féin were a front for terrorism and one newspaper called them "...the IRA in drag". A report by Sir George Baker argued against proscription of both groups however, he did make comments suggesting legislation against those using terrorism during elections. == Act ==

Baker's report was used as grounds for the creation of the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. == Results ==

Though the act was primarily aimed at Sinn Féin in lieu of outright proscription, Republican Sinn Féin however called it a "test oath" and refused to sign it. As a result, their candidates were banned from taking part in the 1989 Northern Ireland local elections. They also attempted to run candidates in the 2011 Northern Ireland local elections but their nominations were rejected because they again refused to sign the declaration as required by the Act. ==References==