File of material marked “Ireland – Political” (BG/74) dealing with attitudes in the Republic towards Northern Ireland as well as cross-border relations as established under the Sunningdale Agreement. Includes copy of meeting of Stormont Castle Permanent Secretaries and officials from the Republic on structure of the Council of Ireland under the Sunningdale communique, as well as possible areas of co-operation (18 Dec 1973); Situation Report for 28 May 1974 during the UWC strike; Brendan Dowling, ‘Paying for a federal Ireland’, Business and Finance (21 Nov 1973); Memorandum from R Ramsey to Mr. Bloomfield on the EEC Co-ordinating committee, mentioning cross-border studies to be submitted to the EEC, the Regional Development Fund and the European Investment bank (14 Nov 1974); Memorandum from M N Hayes to Mr. Bloomfield on political developments in the Irish Republic, noting that a banned song celebrating the Portlaoise escape is number 7 in the Irish charts, ‘the murder of Senator Billy Fox is conveniently forgotten’. Gives his view of public opinion in the south on the north, and a government beset by economic difficulties. He notes that if there is a large pool of unemployed they might provide willing recruits to the IRA (30 Sept 1974); Memorandum from Maurice Hayes to Mr. Bloomfield, discussing the leaked Conor Cruise O’Brien Memo questioning the wiseness of the convention in Northern Ireland. He notes that it was leaked to the “Irish Times” by the Liaison Committee of the Labour Left who were fighting with O’Brien. He comments that Merrigan’s call for a militia, and Ivan Cooper’s call for a bigger Irish army ‘are rather frightening portents, ends discussing the possible SDLP position on the convention (25 Sept 1974); Memorandum from Maurice Hayes to Mr Bloomfield noting developments in the south, including recommendations for RTÉ, the Fine Gael push towards less tax for ‘strong farmers’ amongst other issues (17 May 1974); Maurice Hayes to Mr. Bloomfield noting political and economic developments in the south, including the dilution of the Labour proposal on a wealth tax, discussions on non-denominational schools, the position of Irish and the development of New Ross and IDA initiatives (10 May 1974); digest of political and economic matters in the south (3 May 1974); Letter from KC Thom, British Embassy, Dublin to GW Harding (RID/FCO) outlining the speeches of James Kelly, parliamentary secretary to An Taoiseach, who was vociferous against violence and also Irish media’s unquestioning attitude towards the provisional IRA (21 Mar 1974); Digest of political matters in the south, including the budget, local government and constitutional reform and police matters (5 Apr 1974); Digest of political matters in the south, including the Contraceptive Bill, Hospital Care and other legislation, five Monaghan men charged with the murder of Senator Billy Fox, arms searches and resolutions before the Irish Council of Churches (29 Mar 1974); Noting Taoiseach’s speech on the status of Northern Ireland and security matters, as well as efforts towards regional economic development (15 Mar 1974); Assessment of Cosgrave and Lynch’s approach to Northern Ireland. He says of Lynch that he is ‘engaged in an elaborate ritual dance in which he withdrew delicately from the sinking sands of Republican rhetoric while inching his party along the solid ground of reality’. (28 Feb 1974); Extracts from speech by Conor Cruise O’Brien at Waterford on the power-sharing executive (8 Feb 1974); also a report of attitudes among Fianna Fail supporters (14 Jan 1974).
