Sir Patrick Mayhew's speech to the British–Irish Association | Quill

Resource Collections

Writing Peace: David Trimble Collection

Sir Patrick Mayhew's speech to the British–Irish Association

Saturday, 07 September 1996

This document is a speech delivered by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Sir Patrick Mayhew, at the British–Irish Association Conference in Oxford on 7 September 1996. Mayhew reflects on the progress and challenges in Northern Ireland since the PIRA ceasefire two years prior. He acknowledges that despite the ceasefire, the PIRA and Loyalist paramilitary groups have continued to engage in violence and intimidation. Mayhew discusses the difficulties in maintaining a positive response to the ceasefires while also getting all constitutional parties to the conference table. He highlights the importance of talks as the only way forward and expresses hope for the future. Mayhew also addresses the issue of parades and the deep divisions in Northern Ireland, emphasizing the need for a negotiated comprehensive settlement that addresses all relationships and wins the allegiance of both communities. He mentions the progress made in previous talks and outlines the likely features of any acceptable outcome, including new institutions of government, a North-South relationship, and the end of all Irish claims to jurisdiction over Northern Ireland. Mayhew concludes by calling for an unequivocal restoration of the PIRA ceasefire and the maintenance of the Loyalist ceasefire, emphasizing the responsibility of all parties to work towards a lasting peace.

Download File (format is: "application/pdf")

Writing Peace: David Trimble Collection

(To go a specific resource item, please click on its link.)

None

None

Copyright

None

Physical Copy Information

None

Digital Copy Information

None