Former Prime Minister Sir John Major once remarked that being "shouted at" by an Irish government minister felt just like being in the House of Commons, according to newly declassified state papers.
A Heated Exchange in London
The candid observation was recorded during a tense meeting in September 1992 in London. The documents, part of the annual release from the National Archives of Ireland, show Irish Justice Minister Padraig Flynn confronting UK officials, including Major and Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Peter Mayhew, over security cooperation concerning Northern Ireland.
Flynn, attending with Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, expressed deep concern about an escalation in Loyalist paramilitary violence. He linked this to a pause in meetings of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference. Just prior, Major had told Reynolds that security cooperation was better than ever, but Flynn's intervention sharply challenged that view.
Security Grievances and Constitutional Tensions
The Irish Justice Minister laid out a series of specific complaints. These included the closure of cross-border roads, the rebuilding of a British military watchtower near Cloghogue school, and a preference for mobile patrols over permanent vehicle checkpoints.
Flynn stated he did not wish to "intrude a discordant note" but argued cooperation had decreased due to the break in Conference meetings. In response, Major told him not to worry about being discordant and promised matters would be reviewed.
The discussion quickly turned to the broader political talks with Northern Ireland parties. Flynn dismissed these as "sniffing around the mulberry bush" and "going nowhere". He was particularly vexed by the UK government's position on the Irish Constitution's territorial claim over the island, a key issue for Unionists like DUP leader Ian Paisley.
"It is not helpful when Her Majesty's Government says that the Irish Constitution must be changed," Flynn contended, expressing hope that Mayhew could pressure unionists on the topic.
Major's Conciliatory Humour
Sir Peter Mayhew countered that he had little real influence over unionists, who he said listened to him only because they feared betrayal. Major echoed this, telling Flynn the UK government had "less control over the Unionists than you think".
Seeking to defuse the row, the Prime Minister adopted a conciliatory tone. "I don't mind being shouted at – it is quite like the House of Commons," Major joked. He urged Flynn: "Let us agree we are going to do this – but you must not go away with suspicions about us."
Demonstrating the meeting ended on a lighter note, Major concluded by suggesting they go and "meet the reptiles" – a wry reference to the press corps waiting outside.
The released note, written by an Irish civil servant and not intended as a verbatim record, provides a revealing snapshot of the frank and sometimes fractious diplomacy that underpinned the Northern Ireland peace process in the early 1990s.
