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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

Letter from Richard Gozney to Stephen Wall Regarding the New Irish Government and New HMA Ambassador David Blatherwick

Monday, 10 February 1992

i24031

Encloses two documents from David Blatherwick concerning his views on the Irish Government and the coming year. Also expresses optimism that Albert Reynolds would be an easier Taoiseach to work with than the outgoing Charles Haughey was.

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10 February 1992

Dear Stephen,

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND DESPATCH: HMA DUBLIN'S "SECOND IMPRESSIONS"

The Foreign Secretary has suggested that the Prime Minister may wish to see the initial despatch from our new Ambassador in Dublin/ "Second Impressions". I enclose a copy. The Ambassador considers key problems facing the Republic and Dublin's view of the Northern Ireland problem (paragraph 15) and Irish sensitivities (paragraph 17).

An important objective in 1992 is to follow up the proposals for improved security cooperation which the Prime Minister put to the former Taoiseach in December. The extradition issue will need careful handling.

The retirement of Mr Haughey may provide us with new opportunities to dispose of old sores and establish a better and more productive relationship. Mr Albert Reynolds does not share the intensity of Mr Haughey's feelings about Northern Ireland. The new ministerial team will have other domestic priorities besides the Northern Ireland problems including 20% unemployment and a wide Irish range of urban and rural social and economic problems. Irish suspicions and sensitivity about our security policies will remain. But the Irish can be expected to continue support for a political initiative in Northern Ireland and we may find fewer difficulties in the way of security cooperation.

I am copying this letter and enclosure to the Private Secretaries to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Home Affairs, Trade and Industry, Defence, the Attorney General and to Sir Robin Butler.

Yours ever,
(R H T Gozney)
Private Secretary

J S Wall Esq
10 Downing Street