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.
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WORKPLAN ITEM 6
General Principles and Perceived Political Realities and Requirements: Key Points
Constitutional Status
1. Present Status - Northern Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland's status had been changed by the Anglo-Irish Agreement and it was necessary to return to the previous status.
2. Principle of Consent - there would be no change in that status without the consent of a majority.
3. Present views of a majority/the greater number - the present wish of a majority was for no change.
Local Institutions
6. Greater direct local political involvement.
7. Legislative as well as executive powers.
8. No unfettered majority rule.
9. Mechanisms to ensure an appropriate and fair role for representatives from both sides of the community.
External Relationships
10. Effect on internal politics situation.
11. Relationship with UK Government and Westminster Parliament (especially role of Westminster in relation to non-transferred matters).
12. Desirability of harmonious relationships with the Republic. Articles 2 and 3 should be dealt with as part of a wider agreement.
13. Need to consider value of any more formal North/South relationship.
14. Nature of relationship with EC institutions.
The Three Relationships
15. Desirability of settling all relevant external relationships.
16. Benefit of widely acceptable British-Irish relationship.
17. Need to give adequate expre It might not be necessary for the Republic of Ireland to be directly involved in Northern Ireland affairs in the event of satisfactory inte17. Need to give adequate expression to the totality of relationships (26 March).
Constitutional Politics/Defeating Terrorism
18. Commitment to constitutional, democratic means.
19. Potential long term security benefits of a political accommodation.
20. Desirability of a political consensus for security policies
Individual Rights
22. Machinery to protect individual/minority rights.
23. Cultural/community rights.