# 1983

NI Secretary of State referred to Ian Paisley as a 'schizophrenic'

James Prior said the remark during a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Barry in October 1983

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Sep 13th 2014, 8:30 AM

# Flashback

Check out this abortion debate between William Binchy and Mary Robinson in 1983

The controversial 8th Amendment has just been passed and two heavyweights from the pro-choice and pro-life sides go head-to-head.

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Aug 18th 2014, 9:30 PM

Minister objected to military vehicles factory setting up shop in Ireland in 1983

The Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism Frank Cluskey thought Ireland should take a restrictive attitude to the manufacturing of military equipment in Ireland.

20.6k

Jan 1st 2014, 6:30 PM

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.

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Dec 31st 2013, 5:00 PM

# 1983 State Papers

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

How nice.

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Dec 30th 2013, 6:30 PM

Cornflakes and Ribena among foods banned during Mugabe's 1983 visit to Ireland

State papers have revealed Mrs Mugabe’s dietary requirements.

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Dec 30th 2013, 7:30 AM

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.

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Dec 29th 2013, 8:30 PM

Iran’s ‘championing’ of Bobby Sands in the 1980s was concerning to the Irish Government

Iranian sympathies towards the IRA would not develop beyond a symbolic level, the Irish Government believed, adding that the renaming of the road along side the British Embassy after the hunger striker was not to be taken seriously.

16.8k

Dec 29th 2013, 9:45 AM

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

# Keeping up appearances

The Department of Finance wanted to get rid of the government jet

The Cabinet and the Taoiseach wanted to keep the £2.5 million aeroplane.

10.9k

Dec 29th 2013, 8:00 AM

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.

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Dec 29th 2013, 7:30 AM

Haughey believed Jimmy Savile would be a good mediator for Thatcher dealings

A letter in the National Archives reveals details of a meeting between the pair at the Central Remedial Clinic in the 1980s.

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Dec 28th 2013, 8:36 PM

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.

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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.

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Dec 28th 2013, 5:00 PM

Changes to prison accommodation rules raised concerns about homosexuality

There were “obvious objections to having two prisoners in one cell – the most common objection being that it facilitates homosexuality”.

28.5k

Dec 28th 2013, 8:45 AM

Haughey sought military advice on a common defence plan for Ireland and the UK

State Papers show he planned to ‘bait’ Margaret Thatcher into talks on reunification using the plan.

8.1k

Dec 28th 2013, 7:30 AM

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

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

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.

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Dec 27th 2013, 8:30 PM

This underwear ad in the RTÉ Guide caused a bit of a stir in 1978

In the late 70s and early 80s, there were also a number of complaints about about inappropriate content in men’s magazines.

40.7k

Dec 27th 2013, 6:30 PM

Cost of Margaret Thatcher's helicopter created headaches for govt departments

Departments conversed internally about who should pay the cost which reached more than £8,000.

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Dec 27th 2013, 10:00 AM

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.

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Dec 27th 2013, 9:45 AM

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

Six detained air force officers caused significant tension for Mugabe’s visit to Ireland

It was a hot topic of discussion whether Taoiseach Fitzgerald should raise the issue of the detained air force officers with Mugabe during his visit.

9.9k

Dec 27th 2013, 9:15 AM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Good morning! Here are nine things you need to know as you start your day.

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Dec 27th 2013, 8:52 AM

It would be deemed an “unfortunate event” if Mugabe was harmed on state visit to Ireland

A 1980s state paper advised the Department of Justice to increase security as it would not look good for the country if he was harmed while visiting Ireland.

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Dec 27th 2013, 8:45 AM

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.

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Dec 27th 2013, 8:30 AM

# Back To The Future

The 30-year-old documents that unintentionally planned for Ireland's IMF bailout

“The increase…would also increase the amount of IMF credit potentially available to Ireland should circumstances ever arise…”

13.5k

Dec 27th 2013, 8:15 AM

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.

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Dec 27th 2013, 7:45 AM

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

Phone tapping: Papers reveal garda commissioner's belief that he had no choice but to retire

The Fine Gael-led government’s insistence in 1983 that two senior garda officers were not forced to retire over the phone tapping scandal is at odds with State papers released this month.

8.3k

Dec 27th 2013, 7:30 AM