# 1983 State Papers

All time

# State Papers

Haughey government decided ministers should get a safe and shredder in their homes

If they required them, that is. The Fine Gael-led coalition tried to get them back in 1983 after they came to power.

9.3k

Dec 31st 2013, 5:00 PM

# 1983 State Papers

Indira Gandhi sent greetings from the sky to 'friendly people' of Ireland

How nice.

15.1k

Dec 30th 2013, 6:30 PM

# State Papers

The ‘Free Nicky Kelly’ fliers found in New York’s subway in 1983

Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald and Minister Michael Noonan also came under considerable pressure from Nobel Peace Prize winner Seán MacBride.

26.5k

Dec 29th 2013, 8:30 PM

# 1983

Paisley wanted NI families visiting prisoners in Republic to be paid for

Dr Ian Paisley had written on numerous occasions to the Taoiseach about setting up a scheme to help families from Northern Ireland which had loved ones in jail in Ireland.

13.6k

Dec 29th 2013, 8:45 AM

# 1983

Govt nervous about British nuclear plans and wanted cover ‘if anything went wrong’

An internal memo from the Department of Foreign Affairs shows the government wanted to “cover themselves in the event of anything going wrong” at Windscale.

5.9k

Dec 29th 2013, 7:30 AM

# 1983

Government wanted to play down its involvement in Kissinger visit

But he was given an official lunch, multiple tete-a-tetes with the Taoiseach and security detail.

7.7k

Dec 28th 2013, 5:30 PM

# Abortion

Bishops given copy of Attorney General's advice ahead of 1983 referendum

The Bishop of Clonfert was also given unfettered access to the Attorney General in the lead up to the abortion referendum.

8.0k

Dec 28th 2013, 5:00 PM

# State Papers

How's your memory? Do you recall how much a round of drinks was in 1983?

Let’s look at a government bill from when Robert Mugabe visited this island.

36.5k

Dec 27th 2013, 9:45 PM

# State Papers

Maze prisoners badly treated by 'out of control' officers after IRA escape

One prisoner lost his front teeth, reveals secret documents held in the Department of the Taoiseach.

18.4k

Dec 27th 2013, 9:30 PM

# 1983

RTÉ refused an exemption on Sinn Féin broadcast ban

Minister for Posts and Telegraphs wanted to allow the broadcaster to interview Sinn Féin representatives during the British elections in 1983 – but he wanted something in return.

14.5k

Dec 27th 2013, 8:30 PM

# State Papers

Ex-senior garda advised Taoiseach not to appoint an 'outsider' as commissioner

With the gardaí in crisis after the retirement of its two most senior officers over the phone tapping scandal, one former officer had some advice for Garret FitzGerald.

19.4k

Dec 27th 2013, 9:45 AM

# State Papers 1983

George H.W. Bush wanted to have a 'word in Thatcher's ear'

The then-US Vice President wanted to influence Anglo-Irish relations, but timing prevented it.

10.7k

Dec 27th 2013, 9:15 AM

# State Papers

TDs worried about impact Dáil TV and radio broadcasts would have on their dignity

Here’s how the current Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett, played a key role in opening-up the Dáil to broadcasters.

6.8k

Dec 27th 2013, 8:30 AM

# 1983

History lesson: What happened during the 1983 abortion referendum?

Using first-hand materials gathered from the National Archives, we take a look at what happened before and after the contentious vote in 1983.

28.9k

Dec 27th 2013, 7:45 AM

# 1983

The Attorney General's advice NOT to introduce 'pro-life' constitutional amendment

17 extracts from Peter Sutherland’s advice which predicted many of the issues Ireland has seen over the past 30 years.

6.9k

Dec 27th 2013, 7:45 AM

# 1983

'Ireland's Watergate': How the phone tapping scandal would lead to Haughey's downfall... eventually

What was the phone tapping scandal? TheJournal.ie takes a step back in time and examines what was arguably the biggest political scandal in Irish history that would have consequences far beyond 1983.

13.4k

Dec 27th 2013, 7:30 AM