Quill
  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Brooke/Mayhew Talks 1991-1992
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Brooke/Mayhew Talks 1991-1992
  3. Committee:Drafting Committee
  4. Session: 1992-11-09 09:00:00
  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.

Drafting Committee

Committee set up with representatives of the different delegations to work on a joint statement regarding the end of the Talks process.

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Session 13153: 1992-11-09 09:00:00

Meeting between representatives of the UK Government, Irish Government, and four parties on the putting together of a joint statement.

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Working Draft Joint Statement 9 November 1992

There is 1 proposed amendment related to this document on which a decision has not been taken.

DRAFT STATEMENT

6 November 1992

The Talks participants have agreed the following statement.

These Talks were built on those which were held last year. Like them, they took as ground rules the Statement of 26 March 1991. The first strand of these new Talks began on 9 March and resumed on 29 April, after the British General Election, to consider political arrangements within Northern Ireland. On 6 July, the second strand was launched, involving both the Irish and UK Governments and concerning relationships within the island of Ireland. On 28 July the two Governments held the opening meeting of the third strand, concerning relations between them.

The Talks participants wish to record their deep gratitude to Sir Ninian Stephen for his dedicated role in chairing Strand II of the Talks from 6 July onwards and, in the later stages, presiding over the discussion of issues ranging across all three strands of the Talks. They also thank the Australian Government for agreeing to make Sir Ninian available for this task and providing a senior official to support him in his role.

The Talks have seen substantive and detailed engagement on issues of the first importance.

In Strand I the Northern Ireland parties, together with the British Government, had reached provisional agreement on common themes and on principles which should underlie any new political institutions in Northern Ireland, and have examined possible structures which might reflect them.

In strand II, delegations have discussed fundamental aspects of relationships within the island of Ireland and of realities underlying them, including constitutional issues and questions of identity and allegiance. They have examined the scope for enhanced co-operation within the island of Ireland in the social, economic, security and other fields. They have considered the nature of the structures which might best serve as a vehicle for such co-operation and the conditions necessary for their successful operation.

In Strand III the two Governments, in liaison with the other participants, have addressed possible principles for a new and more broadly based agreement and possible intergovernmental arrangements.

The political dialogue which has taken place in this framework so far has been unprecedented and very valuable. It has addressed both the issues which unite the two traditions in the island of Ireland and those which divide them. It has established common ground in many areas.

It is a fundamental principle for all Talks participants that, in accordance with democratic principles, constitutional and political differences should be resolved exclusively by political means. The Talks participants collectively reaffirm their total abhorrence of and opposition to all forms of terrorism, from whatever source they may come or whatever cause they may purport to serve. They agree that all such activity must be dealt with in accordance with the rule of law and through its impartial and effective enforcement by the relevant authorities. They believe that any new arrangements should be conducive to ending terrorism, maintaining and advancing effective security co-operation, promoting justice and achieving lasting peace and stability.

[They accept and affirm that there are at least two distinct communal identities within Northern Ireland reflecting the two major traditions in the island of Ireland. Each must be given respect and recognition by the other so that they can be appropriately accommodated in any new political structures, taking account of the wider framework of relationships within these islands. Each individual and community has the right to define their own identity; and that right and identity should be respected. They reaffirm that any new arrangements should be such as to give expression to the identity and validity of each main tradition. They are all committed to encouraging a healing process in which differences will be respected and divisions healed by agreement.]

The participants consider that any comprehensive agreement resulting from the Talks process should reflect a shared understanding of the constitutional issues which achieves a balanced accommodation of the differing positions of the two main traditions in relation to them. It is accepted that in any renewed talks it will be open to all delegations to raise, and to seek to achieve change, in regard to all constitutional issues of concern to them. They acknowledge the importance of these issues for both traditions and the need for further work to reconcile the sincere and deeply held views of both sides. The Irish Government declares that if further discussions achieve the basis of "a new beginning" in the relationship between the two traditions in Ireland, and if agreement on a fair and honourable accommodation between them were to entail any constitutional consequences, then it would approach the Irish Electorate to endorse proposed constitutional changes with the hope and prospect of a positive response.

[The discussions have confirmed the analysis underlying the 26 March Statement that for Northern Ireland the internal and external relationships are interlinked and that, in order to be stable and acceptable, a political accommodation is required which gives adequate expression to the totality of relationships described in that Statement.]

These Talks have been of historic importance. The Statement of 26 March recorded that all parties accepted that nothing would be finally agreed in any of the three strands of the Talks until everything was agreed in the Talks as a whole, and that confidentiality would be maintained to that end. The Talks have not as yet resulted in a comprehensive accommodation in relation to this deep seated and long standing problem. But they have brought the parties together in discussion of fundamental issues, and have given to each a clearer and fuller understanding of the requirements which must be accommodated in any political settlement. The participants remain convinced that the Talks have the potential to lead to such a comprehensive settlement. They are convinced that the process must be kept in being, and the effort to achieve a settlement pursued, for the sake of the people of Northern Ireland, of the whole island of Ireland, and of these islands.

The Talks have been held, as the statement of 26 March 1991 envisaged, during an interval between meetings of the Anglo-Irish Conference arranged for the purpose. Since the next meeting of the Conference is to be held on 16 November the present Talks now come to an end. However all the participants agree that further informal talks may be necessary. [They appreciate and welcome the readiness of Sir Ninian to chair such talks.] They agree accordingly to enter consultations, after the Irish General Election, to establish the basis on which further talks should be held.

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