merrion street

Taoiseach to Deliver Iveagh House Lecture Celebrating Landmark British-Irish Achievement

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charlie Flanagan T.D., will this evening (Thursday) host a special event at his Department's headquarters, Iveagh House, to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo Irish Agreement on 15 November 1985. The anniversary arises as Minister Flanagan continues his active engagement as co-chair of the Northern Ireland political talks in Stormont.

To mark this special anniversary, Minister Flanagan has invited An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D., to deliver an Iveagh House Lecture. Guests will include the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan T.D. (Minister for Justice at the time of the Agreement), former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and former Tánaiste Dick Spring (Tánaiste at the time of the Agreement). Several other members of Dr. Garret FitzGerald’s 1982-1987 coalition government will also be in attendance.

Representatives from the families of former Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald (Taoiseach at the time of the Agreement) and former Minister Peter Barry (Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time of the Agreement) will be present for the unveiling of a specially-commissioned bust of Dr. FitzGerald and a portrait of Mr Barry.

H.E. Dominick Chilcott, British Ambassador to Ireland, will convey a message from Prime Minister David Cameron to mark the occasion.

In his remarks, Minister Flanagan will acknowledge the importance of the 1985 Agreement in helping to establish peace in Northern Ireland and will pay tribute to elected representatives and senior officials - some of whom will be present - who worked to achieve it. He will state:

“The Anglo Irish Agreement was the foundation stone on which many building blocks of the edifice of peace and political stability were subsequently laid.”

“Tonight is about celebrating that achievement and celebrating those who made it happen, against the most turbulent of backgrounds. These things are never easy. And we cannot forget the personal sacrifices of our negotiators, both political and official.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The text of the 1985 Anglo Irish Agreement can be found here.