Press conference with Margaret Thatcher after the November 1981 Anglo-Irish Summit. Thatcher attends a press conference where she fields questions from journalists regarding a joint communiqué published by the British and Irish governments. She announces the establishment of an Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council which will meet regularly to look at practical areas of cooperation between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. She reiterates the British government’s commitment to the 1973 Northern Ireland Act and confirms Northern Ireland’s status within the United Kingdom.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 6 November 1981
Name of First Interviewee: Margaret Thatcher
Role at time of Interview: British Prime Minister
Purpose: News, Political
Media: Transcript
Copyright: © Margaret Thatcher Foundation 2012
Link: Read the transcript
Time Period covered: 1981
Key Individuals: Margaret Thatcher, Garret FitzGerald, Lord Carrington, James Prior, Nigel Lawson, Ian Paisley
Key Words: Anglo-Irish Summit, Anglo-Irish intergovernmental council, 1973 Northern Ireland Act, joint communiqué,devolution, Assembly, NIO