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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Brooke/Mayhew Talks 1991-1992
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Brooke/Mayhew Talks 1991-1992
  3. Committee:British-SDLP Talks
  4. Session: 1991-05-08 14:45:00
  5. Event type: CREATE

Northern Ireland Brooke/Mayhew Talks 1991-1992

WORK IN PROGRESS - IN THE FINAL STAGES OF EDITING A series of talks launched by Peter Brooke, Secretary of State for Northern in Ireland, which began in April 1991, and were carried on intermittently by Brooke and his successor, Patrick Mayhew, until November 1992.

British-SDLP Talks

Dates of meetings created from source material, but records of discussions not currently available to us.

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Document introduced in:

Session 12485: 1991-05-08 14:45:00

The second bilateral meeting of 8 May between the UK Government Team and the SDLP

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Conclusions of Meeting with the SDLP on 8 May at 14.45pm

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Conclusions of Meeting with the SDLP on 8 May at 14.45pm

Clarification of Unionist Position After Latest Meetings

- The Unionist parties would consider the possibility that the Northern Ireland Parties might go to Dublin during strand three to present their views regarding the implications of strands one and two directly to the two Governments.

- Despite their previous uneasiness about a European location, the Unionist parties were now seriously considering locations outside the British Isles as the only way to resolve the problem.

- On 3 May, the Unionists had said that they were not prepared to accept any part of strand two taking place in Ireland. If they now agreed to a meeting in Northern Ireland, this would clearly involve a concession from their 3 May position, just as it would involve a concession from the SDLP.

SDLP Position

- European location. To resort to a European location would expose the participants to "total ridicule".

- Other locations in the UK and ROI. The SDLP would be willing to consider locations in the UK and Ireland outside of London and Dublin. At least part of the talks should take place in Ireland. It was not reasonable for the Unionists to demand changes in the Irish Constitution while at the same time refusing to cross the border to discuss this with them. It was a totally reasonable position that the locations for strand two should be within Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, since those talks concerned the two parts of Ireland. The SDLP were willing to share their position paper with the Unionists to provide assurance that their position was not under threat.

- Responsibility for the current impasse. The SDLP had been flexible and did not share equal responsibility for the difficulty. They resented the sense that the Government held both sides equally responsible.

- Reassurance to Unionist Community. The SDLP would be willing to have their text recognising the need to accommodate the Unionist identity published alongside any agreement on venue.

Decisions yet to be taken

None

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