20.04.1998
Extract from a statement by the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Mo Mowlam in April 1998, Catalogue ref: PREM 49/412
Transcript
This agreement was made possible by the efforts of many people – most of all by the leaders of
the political parties involved in the negotiations.
The House will I am sure wish to join me in also paying tribute to them and to the exceptional
chairmanship skills of Senator George Mitchell and his fellow independent Chairmen, former
Prime Minister Harri Holkeri and General John de Chastelain.
The patience, impartiality and the personal authority which Senator Mitchell showed over the
months of difficult and tense negotiation were a major factor in the success of these talks.
No less crucial was the constant support and the direct involvement of my Rt Hon Friend the
Prime Minister, particularly over the last few days of the negotiations.
The final 36 hours saw him engaged in a virtually non-stop round of intensive negotiations which
were among the toughest of the whole process.
His efforts were matched by those of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who rose above the personal
tragedy of his mother’s death, to play an equally decisive role in the final intensive days of
negotiation.
Hon Members will also appreciate the enormous value of having a broad political consensus in
support of the talks process, both here at Westminster and in the Irish Parliament.