WORKPLAN ITEM 6

General Principles and Perceived Political Realities and Requirements: Key Points

Constitutional Status

1. Present Status.

2. Principle of Consent.

3. Present views of a majority/the greater number.

Nature of the Northern Ireland Community

4. One or two communities?

5. The need to accommodate two distinct communal identities.

Local Institutions

6. Greater direct local political involvement.

7. Legislative as well as executive powers.

8. No unfettered majority rule.

9. Mechanisms to ensure an appropriate and fair role for representatives from both sides of the community.

External Relationships

10. Effect on internal political situation.

11. Relationship with UK Government and Westminster Parliament (especially role of Westminster in relation to non-transferred matters).

12. Desirability of harmonious relationships with the Republic.

13. Need to consider value of any more formal North/South relationship.

14. Nature of relationship with EC institutions.

The Three Relationship

15. Desirability of settling all relevant external relationship;

16. Benefit of widely acceptable British-Irish relationship.

17. Need to give adequate expression to the totality of relationships (26 March).

Constitutional Politics/Defeating Terrorism

18. Commitment to constitutional, democratic means.

19. Potential long term security benefits of a political accommodation.

20. Desirability of a political consensus for security policies.

21. Importance of giving local political institutions at least c input into the determination of security policy.

Individual Rights

22. Machinery to protect individual/minority rights.

23. Cultural/community rights.

Endorsement

24. By the people of Northern Ireland.

25. In the light of proposals regarding other relationships.

26. The value of wider validation of any package.