News from IAIS
2003-07-07 07:12:00 EST
CLINTON POSITIVE - PAISLEY NEGATIVE
The fact the Drumcree march passed off peacefully is a positive sign the Belfast Agreement can be implemented in full, the former US president Mr Bill Clinton said today. Speaking in Government Buildings in Dublin at a press conference with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, this morning, Mr Clinton said he was encouraged by the way the Orange Order march at Drumcree was conducted yesterday.
2003-07-05 13:00:00 EST
PORTADOWN PREPARES FOR ORANGE MARCH
A large security operation was launched today as the British army moved in to fortify the surroundings of Drumcree Church in Portadown. The security operation was smaller than that seen in previous years, reflecting the optimism of police chiefs that there will be no major trouble this year.
2003-06-28 12:47:00 EST
ORANGE ORDER MARCH PASSES PEACEFULLY
One of the most contentious loyalist parades in Northern Ireland's marching season passed off peacefully today despite passing a west Belfast sectarian falshpoint today. Amid a massive security operation, Orange Order marchers walked along a stretch of the staunchly Catholic Springfield Road.
2003-06-27 12:00:00 EST
UUP SUSPENDS DISSIDENT MPS
The Ulster Unionist Party has suspended its president the Rev Martin Smyth and two other MPs, Mr David Burnside and Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, it emerged tonight.
2003-06-26 12:43:00 EST
TRIMBLE BEGINS MOVE TO EXPEL REBELS
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble began moves today to expel rebel MPs Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, the Reverend Martin Smyth and Mr David Burnside from the party. He announced that a special disciplinary committee had been set up to deal with the three who resigned the party whip at Westminster in protest at the leadership's policy on the peace process.
2003-06-20 13:35:00 EST
NEW NORTH TALKS ANNOUNCED AFTER MEETING
A political vacuum will not be allowed develop in the North, Irish premier Bertie Ahern said as he announced a new round of consultations with pro-Agreement parties today. After a meeting between Mr Ahern and Mr Blair on the fringes of the EU summit in Greece today, it was announced that the Taoiseach would meet UUP leader Mr David Trimble, and Sinn Féin leader, Mr Gerry Adams, next week. A meeting with Prime Minister Blair is also being mooted.
2003-06-17 12:56:00 EST
DONALDSON GETS INVITE FROM DUP AFTER DEFEAT
Hardline MP Jeffrey Donaldson tonight faced calls not to walk away from the troubled Ulster Unionists and trigger a split which could make Ian Paisley's DUP the largest unionist grouping in Northern Ireland. Close associates urged him to stay on and intensify his opposition to David Trimble`s leadership and continued support for the Good Friday Agreement.
2003-06-15 13:51:00 EST
TRIMBLE PREPARES FOR DONALDSON SHOWDOWN
David Trimble was tonight preparing for a major showdown with his anti-Agreement critics which could decide the future of unionism. The Ulster Unionist leader is expected to defeat a motion by anti-Agreement MP Jeffrey Donaldson at tomorrow`s meeting of the party`s ruling council - but there are fears that it could split the party in two.
2003-06-13 09:31:00 EST
DUBLIN BOMBING INQUEST TO REOPEN
An inquest into the Dublin bombings is to be formally reopened next Friday, 29 years after the attacks which killed 33 people in the capital and in Monaghan. At stake is the eroding credibility of the British Government and it's security services who are believed by many to have colluded with loyalists in the bombings. The Dublin City Coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said yesterday that inquests into how 26 people died in Dublin city centre on May 17th, 1974 would resume by way of mention at the coroner's court on Friday.
2003-06-07 20:16:00 EST
COWEN CALLS FOR FALL ELECTIONS IN NORTH
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen has called on the British government to allow elections to the powersharing Assembly to take place in the fall. Mr Cowen, who was on a visit to the North, said the Irish government had strongly opposed the decision by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to suspend the election on May 29.
2003-05-27 07:20:00 EST
TRIMBLE WARNS AGAINS VIOLENCE DURING MARCHING SEASON
Rioting at Belfast's sectarian flashpoints this summer could destroy efforts to restore Northern Ireland's power sharing government by October, Mr David Trimble said today. As he prepared to meet loyalist paramilitary representatives in an attempt to maintain calm across the city's volatile peace lines, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader said the next few months were crucial to breaking the deadlock in the peace process. He also called on republicans to start planning how the IRA will "finally go out of business for good".
2003-05-18 16:42:00 EST
PUBLISH FULL STEVENS REPORT - SINN FEIN
Sinn Féin has called on the British government to publish full contents of the Stevens Report into collusion between British military intelligence services and loyalist paramilitaries. Party chairman Mitchel McLaughlin, speaking in the wake of the latest media reports about the alleged activities of Stakeknife, said it was time for the British Prime Minister to put an end to "spinning and unverifiable allegations".
2003-05-17 14:04:00 EST
SDLP CALLS FOR PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO COLLUSION
The nationalist SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, today repeated his party's call for a public inquiry into claims that British military intelligence connived in the planning and execution of murders in Northern Ireland in order to protect its sources of information. Mr Durkan said it was "clearly evident" that British Intelligence "did literally control terrorism on a number of levels, that they actually conspired to direct particular murders by particular organisations and in other cases they failed to intervene in circumstances where they could have intervened."
Mr Durkan repeated his call for a full public inquiry in the activities of the British army's highly secret Force Research Unit. Mr Durkan's comments come following the naming of an alleged British army informer who operated in the top echelons of the IRA. The man at the center of the claims, Mr Freddie Scappaticci, this week publicly denied the allegation.
2003-05-09 11:32:00 EST
AHERN ATTACKS TRIMBLE'S FAILURE TO RESTORE EXECUTIVE
Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today attacked Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble over the failure to restore the power-sharing executive in Belfast. With London and Dublin set to call for new talks involving the Northern Ireland parties to get the peace process up and running again, Mr Ahern said it was crucial Mr Trimble played his part.
2003-05-03 18:59:00 EST
IRA TO RELEASE STATEMENT ON PEACE PROCESS
The IRA is to release the statement setting out peace pledges given to the British and Irish Governments last month. It will be made public once activists had been briefed on its contents, the organisation disclosed in an announcement this evening.
See full text
2003-05-01 10:28:00 EST
BRITAIN UNILATERALLY SUSPENDS NORTH'S ELECTIONS
The British government has unilaterally postponed, until the autumn, elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly planned for the end of this month. Immediately after the announcement by Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary in the House of Commons in London, the governments' Joint Declaration on the future of the peace process was published.
In a statement delivered at Government Buildings in Dublin the Irish premier, Bertie Ahern, expressed his "disappointment" at the decision of the British government to unilaterally suspend the Assembly elections. "I disagree with the British government on the postponement of the elections. I re-iterated this in conversations with the Mr Blair last evening and this morning. Ultimately I believed that another postponement causes more problems for the peace process."
2003-04-28 10:04:00 EST
AHERN WELCOMES ADAMS' STATEMENT
The Irish premier, Mr Bertie Ahern, said today further clarification was needed regarding the IRA putting an end to all its activities. Speaking to reporters in Dublin the Taoiseach said he welcomed the statement provided yesterday by Mr Adams: "It was clearly a considered effort to try and break the current impasse. I think it has rightly been recognised as such. The statement represents a positive and significant advance as we see it. The clarifications provided are important and they are helpful".
2003-04-27 14:27:00 EST
ADAMS ANSWERS BLAIR'S THREE QUESTIONS
The IRA is prepared to carry out an act of disarmament "if there is a positive response" to its proposal from the British and Irish governments and Ulster Unionists, Sinn Fein leader Mr Gerry Adams said today. In a keynote address to republicans at Stormont this afternoon, Mr Adams revealed the IRA offered to carry out a third act of arms decommissioning had Ulster Unionists backed moves to end the suspension of devolution.
"My understanding is that all of this is still doable at this time if there is a positive response from the two governments and Mr Trimble," Mr Adams said. "Let me tell you that the Sinn Fein leadership have put in a huge amount of effort to save this process but there is a limit to what we can do."
See full text of questions and answers.
2003-04-23 07:47:00 EST "There are essentially three questions."
2003-04-13 13:40:00 EST Reaffirming its "commitment to this process" and "desire to see it succeed", the IRA said the statement focused on four main issues:
04/10/03 06:56 EST 04/08/03 10:31 EST 2003-04-07 15:12:00 EST 2003-04-06 11:19:00 EST 2003-04-04 12:41:00 EST 2003-04-01 12:00:00 EST 2003-04-01 09:37:00 EST Read the full stories at The Irish American Information Service
BLAIR AND SINN FEIN AT ODDS OVER CLARITY
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair claimed today that the IRA had failed to provide a "clear and unambiguous" commitment to Northern Ireland's peace process. Mr Blair told a media briefing in Downing Street that the parties in the Northern Ireland peace process were "frustratingly close" to an agreement - but had yet to finalise a deal.
IRA ISSUES STATEMENT TO GOVERNMENTS
The IRA has given the British and Irish Governments a statement outlining its position on the peace process and its ceasefire. The IRA confirmed it had "closed on a statement" which also dealt with their approach to a third act of arms decommissioning.
* The current disposition of Oglaigh na hEireann (the Irish Republican Army) and the status of its cessation.
* Its future intentions.
* Its attitude to a re-engagement with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
* Engagement in a process of putting arms beyond use.
NO DEAL YET - SUMMIT POSTPONED
Hopes of a breakthrough in the peace process were dashed today after the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister cancelled their visits to the North to unveil a new blueprint for progress. Mr Ahern will instead travel to London this afternoon to review the situation with Mr Blair. The visits were cancelled when an impasse in talks with pro-Agreement parties developed.
PREMIERS ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT FOLLOWING TALKS
US President George W Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish premier Bertie Ahern issued a joint statement this afternoon urgeing parties to accept Dublin and London's proposals this week for moving the Belfast Agreement forward. And in comments aimed at the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries, they urged them in a joint communique from Hillsborough Castle to break finally from the gun.
BUSH ARRIVES IN HILLSBOROUGH FOR SUMMIT
US president George Bush has arrived at RAF Aldergrove for the war summit in Northern Ireland. The President and Air Force One touched down just before 6.30pm, local time. Thousands of protesters marched on Hillsborough near Belfast tonight and declared: "We want nothing to do with the Iraqi massacre." Heavy security kept demonstrators away from Hillsborough Castle where the US President and the Prime Minister met for talks, but a procession of demonstrators snaked its way up to the County Down village to show opposition to the conflict.
BUSH TRIP RAISES HOPES OF BREAKTHROUGH
US President George W. Bush's surprise intervention in the peace process has raised hopes of a breakthrough at talks next week. The North will be the third item on the agenda, after Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, when Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair hold a summit at Hillsborough Castle, south of Belfast, on Monday and Tuesday.
BUSH IN BELFAST: SPECULATION MOUNTS
The announcement that President George W. Bush is to visit Belfast for a two day trip beginning Monday will increase pressure on the North's political parties to accept a blueprint to be announced later next week by the British and Irish premiers. The plan to be announced by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, based on 'acts of completion' on all sides, is intended to bring an end to the continual series of crises which have brought the Good Friday Agreement to its knees. Downing Street confirmed President Bush would visit the North on Monday and Tuesday as Mr. Blair and Mr Ahern prepare a package of proposals to secure the future of the Belfast Agreement.
BLAIR UNDER PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN ELECTION DATE
British prime minister Tony Blair was under pressure tonight to stick to his Government's May 29 date for Northern Ireland's Assembly Election. Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds warned the British government any attempt to postpone the election to October would be "scandalous". And after a meeting with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen in Dublin, nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan also opposed any delay.
BLUEPRINT COULD BE UNVEILED NEXT WEEK
The British and Irish governments hope to reveal their blueprint to restore devolution to the Northern Ireland political parties next week. It is understood there are already moves within the Ulster Unionist Party to reject the deal even before it has been published. The date for the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister`s return to Hillsborough Castle to reveal their plan is not fixed, but could be as early as April 10.
"The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann takes this opportunity to give our view of the current phases of the peace process. In particular we want to address unionist concerns. "The political responsibility for advancing the current situation rests with the two governments, especially the British Government, and the leaderships of the political parties. "Accordingly, the IRA leadership have assessed commitments from the two governments and the UUP.
"The IRA has a genuine interest in building an enduring political process because we want to see the removal of the causes of the conflict in our country. "Although the Irish Republican Army is not a party to the Good Friday Agreement, we are disappointed that the Agreement has not been implemented. "We are disappointed also that the commitments in the joint declaration are conditional and protracted. Despite this we want to give them a fair wind. "Oglaigh na hEireann supports the peace process. We want it to work. We affirm that our cessation is intact.
"We are resolved to see the complete and final closure of this conflict. The IRA leadership is determined to ensure that our activities, disciplines and strategies will be consistent with this. "Furthermore, the full and irreversible implementation of the Agreement and other commitments will provide a context in which the IRA can proceed to definitively set aside arms to further our political objectives. "When there is such a context this decision can be taken only by a General Army Convention representing all our volunteers. "We want to enhance the climate at all levels of society so that unionists and loyalists, nationalists and republicans, free from threats to their rights and safety, can engage together in community, political and other areas of co-operation and work. "The IRA poses no threat to the unionist people or to the peace process.
"The IRA leadership reiterates our commitment to resolving the issue of arms. The commitments from the two governments, including the ending of the suspension of the political institutions, and the firm pledge by the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party that he will actively support the sustained working of the political institutions and other elements of the Good Friday Agreement, enables us to do this. "We have authorised our representative to meet with the IICD with a view to proceeding with the implementation of a process to put arms beyond use at the earliest opportunity. "We have also authorised a third act of putting arms beyond use. This will be verified under the agreed scheme. "These initiatives are part of our ongoing contribution to the collective endeavour. The commitments made by the two governments and the UUP are a necessary part of this. "We support genuine efforts to build a just and peaceful future for all the people of this island. This is a collective task for all sections of society. Unionist political leaders have a special contribution to make.
"We are Irish republicans. Our objective is a united Ireland. We are not unionists or British and no one should expect us to to set aside our political objectives or our republicanism. "We do not claim to fully understand unionist perceptions. But we are prepared to listen and to learn. And we are committed to playing our part in creating the conditions in which unionists, nationalists and republicans can live together peacefully. "Building the collective trust to achieve this is a huge challenge for everyone. Given the experience of nationalists and republicans during the decades of conflict and before, this is a particular challenge for us. It is also a challenge for unionists and the British Government.
"Much hurt has been inflicted by British Government policy, by successive British Governments and by the old unionist regime. Great pain has been caused by the British army, the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries. Irish republicans and nationalists have a proud and honourable record of resistance against these forces. We know unionists do not see it like that. "We are also conscious that non-combatants were killed and injured as a consequence of some of our actions. We offer our sincere apologies and condolences to their families and friends.
"The IRA is committed to supporting every effort to make conflict a thing of the past. To this end the IRA leadership has previously authorised a series of unprecedented initiatives to enhance the search for a lasting peace. "On occasions these have been undervalued or dismissed. Despite this, we are persisting in our endeavours. The initiatives outlined in this statement involve further substantive and additional contributions by the IRA. "Both governments - and unionists and republicans alike - have now an opportunity which cannot and should not be wasted."
P O'Neill, Irish Republican Army.
2003-04-23 07:47:00 EST
Referring to Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams's statement that the IRA's commitments to the peace process were clear, Mr Blair said: "The truth is, so far as we are concerned, and the Irish government is concerned, and the US government, they are not clear and unambiguous, they are uncertain."
"There are essentially three questions that arise and I think you will find that when I describe these three questions, they are all questions that are perfectly capable of clear and plain answers," he said. "Let me spell them out for you because these are the three fundamental questions;
"-When the IRA say that their strategies and disciplines will not be inconsistent with the Good Friday Agreement, does that mean an end to all activities inconsistent with the Good Friday Agreement, including targeting, procurement of weapons, so-called punishment beatings and so forth?
"-Secondly, when they say that they are committed to putting arms beyond use through the decommissioning commission, does that mean all arms so that the process is complete?
"-And thirdly, when they say that they support the Good Friday Agreement and want it to work, does that mean that if the two Governments and the other parties fulfil their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and the joint declaration, does that mean the complete and final closure of the conflict?"
See full text of questions and answers.
04/08/03 14:04 EST
Below is the full text of the joint communiqué released by US President George Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern following their meeting at Hillsborough today:
"We reaffirm our individual and collective commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and to its full and complete implementation. The people of Northern Ireland and their leaders have a momentous opportunity to ensure that peace is strengthened and political stability is secured. The opportunity to cement the peace is historic. The case is compelling; the cause just; the outcome must be fair, balanced and comprehensive. The acceptance and implementation of the Governments' forthcoming proposals would promote the reconciliation that the people of Northern Ireland desire and deserve. These proposals, built on the firm ground of the Good Friday Agreement, hold out the prospect of enormous progress. They reflect our shared view that there can be no place in Northern Ireland for paramilitary activity and capability. The break with paramilitarism in all its past forms must be complete and irrevocable. The proposals will encompass a wide range of additional issues, including normalisation, the devolution of justice and policing, sustainable political institutions, and human rights. The participation of all parties in effective community policing, a necessary key to long term stability in Northern Ireland, would constitute a significant step forward. There will be a need for a mechanism, one designed to safeguard the interests and rights of all, to verify compliance with the key undertakings. All three Governments are committed to supporting effective monitoring arrangements. Acts of completion, and a reaffirmation that political change is to come through exclusively peaceful and democratic means, will renew and expand trust and confidence. Peace is its own dividend. At the same time, peace fosters an environment where entrepreneurship and business creativity can thrive, where jobs will be created, and where prosperity will follow. Our Governments have agreed to work together to explore ways to encourage the flow of investment to Northern Ireland. We call upon Northern Ireland's political representatives, community and business leaders, and citizens from all walks of life to respond positively to the forthcoming statements. We see no better way to fulfil the promise of the Good Friday Agreement. They have an unprecedented chance to continue their bold march from a troubled past to a future of promise and hope for generations to come. In seizing this opportunity, Northern Ireland will serve as a model to the world for dialogue and negotiation, demonstrating to all that what was once divided can be drawn together in a spirit of reconciliation and respect."
Irish Proclamation of Freedom Read by Patrick Pearse from the Steps of the General Post Office, Dublin, Ireland on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916
The Irish Government, June 1997:
Bloody Sunday and the Report of the Widgery Tribunal
Full text of the Good Friday Agreement, April 10, 1998.
Investigation into the human rights in Northern Ireland, September 29, 1998
Statement by Rosemary Nelson, solicitor for Garvaghy Road residents
Nobel Peace Price Award, December 11, 1998:
Nobel Address by David Trimble, First Minister and leader of the Ulster Unionist Party
Nobel Address by John Hume, leader of the catholic SDLP
George Mitchell's Peace Principles, November 1999:
Statements of November 16 and 17, 1999, by Ulster Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, Progressive Unionist Party and IRA
George Mitchell's statement, November 18, 1999
Suspension of Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. February 2000:
Decommissioning reports, Mandelson in House of Commons, IRA statements
Peace process resumed. May 2000
British-Irish joint statement and IRA statement.
Inspection of IRA weapons dumps, June 2000
Arms inspector's report
Abortion Referendum March 7, 2002
IRA Statement on Decommissioning April 8, 2002
Speech by Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, at the Harbour Commisssioners' Offices in Belfast, 17 October 2002.
An Irish bookshop: Read Ireland
Wesley Johnston's History of Ireland
The CAIN Project (The Northern Ireland Conflict)
Danish Irish Society
Sinn Féin Homepage
The Irish Times
I started reading about Ireland and about its history in order to understand just a bit of the Irish paradoxes. Although I started from the very beginning the matter was still incomprehensible. I therefore began to write down the headlines in Danish.
In 1998 when I got my own website I wondered what to put there. My family, my career or my garden could not attract much attention. But my Danish survey of the history of Ireland would be different from most other websites, so I uploaded the whole story.
I considered my web-project to be complete by then. However the beginning of 1998 was to become a turning point in the history of Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement created optimism and a new hope of lasting peace. I therefore added new chapters on the peace agreement and on the ups and downs since then. Obviously there is still a way to go before a real peace has been achieved and right now I can't see the end of my project.
A lot of people wrote to me asking for details or references. This has proved the need for a brief Danish version of the history of Ireland. In 2001 more than 50 persons on the average have been visiting my website every day.
However about 10 % of the visitors on my website are non-Scandinavians. I have added this page in order to serve these people with some information about my project and with some of the important references.
I considered reference documents and speeches most interesting in the original English language. I also have to admit that a proper translation of the documents to Danish is not that simple. On the other hand the number of visitors to the reference pages in English has been very limited. Therefore all information in English will be concentrated in this English section of my website together with selected news.
I have no intention of making an English version of the whole story. I have neither the ability nor the capacity to write in English and several excellent sites already offer that sort of information.
E-mail me your comments and questions
Ireland History in Maps
Irish History on the Web
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
Ulster Unionist Party
The Irish Republican Socialist Party
Fine Gael
Ulster Democratic Unionist Party, DUP
Fianna Fáil
Ulster Democratic Party
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Progressive Unionist Party
Ulster Nation
The Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Wild Geese (USA) Irish soldiers in exile
Visit Danish Irish Society
December 16, 2001 Top
Since my first visit to Ireland the history of Ireland was a puzzle to me. Why has this beautiful country with its charming and hospitable population become the arena of a never-ending conflict? Differences in religion, language, race or culture gave no reasonable explanation. Which coincidence has caused so much suffering in Ireland while other countries such as Denmark had nothing but trifles to quarrel about?