- Event type: CREATE_FROM
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.
Office of the Strand 1 Chairman (British Government Delegation)
In order to adequately reflect the role of the Chairman and his staff in re-drafting documents and controlling the flow of information during bilateral negotiations, we are representing them as a separate committee. In contrast to other Quill negotiations, in these Talks much of the actual work of negotiation and making proposals took place in bilateral meetings between the Chairman and the party delegations. The minutes of these sessions have been preserved in the same format as the minutes of the plenary sessions, and the sessions are modelled from the minutes as separate Committees (British Government/Alliance Bilaterals, etc.). The Chairman would move between these meetings, reporting on the positions of the other delegations and trying to reach accommodation. It is beyond the scope of the current project to model all the internal government meetings which took place during the Talks (although documentation for at least some of them exists in the National Archives), but we can draw on evidence within the sources we are using to show that proposals and agendas for the bilaterals were agreed within the Government team. For example, in a particular round of meetings, the Chairman will open the meeting with a near-identical agenda and summary of the current position of the other parties. To adequately model the fact that the flow of ideas between the delegations was filtered by the Chairman in this way, we have set up a committee called the 'Office of the Chairman' to show the conclusions of each bilateral discussion passing through the Chairman's Office and being redrafted before being passed on to the next delegation.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Session 12685: 1991-05-22 07:00:00
The Joint Unionist Position Paper of 21 May has been completed. The Secretary of State now seeks to resolve outstandig issues concerning the venue for Strand 2 and the terms of reference for the independent chairman. The identity of the chairman is considered to be a matter for the two governments.
Document View:
Unionist Position Paper: Terms of Reference for the Independent Chairman
Terms of Reference & Standing Orders of the Independent Chairman
ISSUES TO BE INCLUDED
1. A definition of Strand 2 to be included in the chairman's terms of reference. This has previously been described by the Secretary of State as "those discussions held to consider the
relationship between a Northern Ireland administration and the Irish Republic".
2. The presiding officer shall be appointed to convene and chair all meetings, whether plenary or other, held under the Strand 2 section of the talks.
3. Stipulation regarding "independence" - each participant (ie the two governments and the four Northern Ireland Parties) must be regarded and treated equitably.
4. No private brief to chairman by appointing parties.
5. Need to work according to agreement already reached regarding venue.
6. The term of appointment will be for the duration of the talks process.
7. Role as chairman of meetings - authority in the chair.
8. The chairman will ensure that suitable minutes are kept of each meeting, and that these minutes are distributed to those entitled to receive them.
9. While the chairman will report the outcome of meetings, any task undertaken by the chairman in exploring the contrasts or commonality in the positions of the parties shall be exercised at the request of the participants.
10. Power to convene plenary, bilateral and other non-plenary meetings on request of participating parties.
11. The chairman, in consultation with all the participants, will determine the agenda for meetings of Strand 2 talks.
12. The chairman may adjourn a meeting either to ensure the good conduct of the discussions or in consultations with the participants. Equally a delegation may propose an adjournment, such adjournment not to be unreasonably withheld.
13. Consultation with all parties by chairman. Each party shall have a right of access to the chairman.
14. Restricted to meeting participating delegations only.
15. Ability to direct staff (seconded from host government).
16. No press or public comment by or on behalf of the chairman.
17. Agreement of all parties on any procedure not previously set down.
(22nd May, 1991)
Decisions yet to be taken
- Unionist Position Paper: Terms of Reference for the Independent Chairman (introduced on 1991-05-22 07:00:00 - CREATE_FROM - e831633) [This document]
Document Timeline
- Unionist Position Paper: Terms of Reference for the Independent Chairman (introduced on 1991-05-22 07:00:00 - CREATE_FROM - e831633) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]