Declassified state papers reveal behind-the-scenes preparations for a meeting between the Irish and UK governments in 1998.
Mo Mowlam and David Andrews led the British and Irish delegations at an intergovernmental conference in 1998
The civil servant also remarked that frequent meetings between officials from the two governments during the Castle Buildings talks which led to the historic peace deal meant that the “high political passion” of the conferences had worn off. He added: “In preparations for meetings of the Intergovernmental Conference they have generally tried to create expectations of outcomes, highlight the main points on which their ministers would focus, in short they have ‘rolled the pitch’ in the interests of their own team.
He added: “The IGC’s main function now is a ‘political theatre’ so it may be worth a little trouble to get the advertising right in advance.” In 1998 Mo Mowlam was the Northern Ireland secretary and David Andrews was the Irish foreign minister
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