State Papers for 1989

A bit better than I’d expected – some of the coverage of newly opened state papers. The IT had three pages, RTÉ this. But… swings and roundabouts, due to resource issues the range of documents released is limited.

As to the content, a different world in many many ways. Haughey and Thatcher appear to have got on, all things considered, famously. Hardly a surprise. The ROI decided not to allow military personnel train in the US at the gift of the US government. Assassination threats against Haughey and FitzGerald. Thatcher against German unity in the wake of the fall of the Berlin Wall. And more. Though this resonates today:

Housing Stock

A report from the National Economic and Social Council in 1989 criticised the government for selling off local authority housing stock. It also lambasted the Fianna Fáil-led government over what it described as a failure to provide protection for tenants in private rented accommodation.

In response the government said it did not accept any of the report’s recommendations, which it viewed as contrary to government policy.

As does this:

Pat Finucane was shot dead by the UDA in front of his family at his home in north Belfast in February 1989.

The publication of State Papers from that time reveal the scale of the disquiet felt within government in the hours following the murder.

A long road to the election earlier this month.