What does the Good Friday Agreement say? In accepting the GFA, both the British and Irish governments were required to accept the current constitutional situation of Northern Ireland. The agreement states that the present wish of the people of Northern Ireland is to “maintain the Union” and that the current situation “relies upon that wish”. It also clearly acknowledges that the constitutional status is a decision for the people of Northern Ireland. Article 1.1 of the agreement states that both governments must: recognise the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland with regard to its status, whether they prefer to continue to support the Union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland.