# State Papers
All time
When Maggie dropped some epic shade on Garret FitzGerald...
Mrs Thatcher was not a fan of Ministers for Foreign Affairs.
Pornography being shown in pubs had the government in a fluster 30 years ago
The government of the time was not one bit happy at the thought of sex shops coming to these shores either.
Womanhood on trial: The letters received by the Taoiseach during the Kerry Babies saga
Documents released under the 30-year rule show the public interest in the tragedies.
Mrs Brown, tourists, and the Luas: The week in numbers
Plus: What was the lowest temperature in Ireland this week?
Government Buildings got a lick of paint when Ronald Reagan came to visit
Including varnishing, carpets, ceiling tiles and “general cleaning up”.
Iran wanted films of the Irish struggle... we wanted to send them nature docs
A rep from Iranian TV wanted a video from Ireland for broadcasting.
The day an Irish fishing boat was sunk by a British submarine
Newly released documents show the Government had ‘no intention’ to get involved in the crew’s case against the UK.
Back in 1984 the Government was worried about banning smoking in classrooms
In some schools smoking in the classroom was “an accepted practice”.
Government was worried about hiking up tax on booze in 1984 because we were so broke...
… but they did it anyway.
Could Britain's State Papers give a 'one-sided' view of Anglo-Irish history?
One Fianna Fáil councillor believes so, as the British papers are being released ahead of Irish papers.
Stop it! RTÉ was told to stop jamming pirate radio stations
Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald said the Government were not trying to be “spoil-sports”.
Thirty years ago, a Fine Gael government was worried that Sinn Féin 'could deliver'
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Barry didn’t like that Sinn Féin representatives were being listened to.
Were there nuclear missiles stored in Northern Ireland?
That was a big question back in the early 1980s.
This American lady begged the Prime Minister to save the leprechaun
“In our hearts we know they are still there.”
Ads for Transformer toys and Barbie's Star Traveller were a big worry in the 1980s....
The country was in the midst of a recession with unemployment up to 16.1%.
Water cannons could be "more lethal than plastic bullets". That's what the UK told Ireland...
17 people were killed by either rubber or plastic bullets during The Troubles.
Ireland wanted to sell water to Saudi Arabia for $5 a barrel in the 1980s
There was one problem… Japan also wanted to.
Thatcher in '84: 'The Irish don't like to move, but they're all terribly happy to move to Britain'
The PM’s comments have been revealed in newly released state documents.
"I would have preferred not to have seen Mr Browne at all"
Vincent Browne wanted to interview the Irish Ambassador in 1984 – who wasn’t happy about it.
This man warned that Ireland could end up needing a bailout... 30 years ago
State papers reveal how Alan Dukes warned his cabinet colleagues of the need to cut spending.
In 1983 there was a chance a Soviet spy satellite would fall on Ireland
There was one in 10,000 chance nuclear-powered Cosmo 1402 would fall over Ireland.
Thousands of Northern refugees streamed over the border in the 1970s - some were called "ungrateful"
The situation is detailed in a memo to Government from 1973.
The secret note that revealed how much Margaret Thatcher trusted Garret Fitzgerald
A steering note before Garret Fitzgerald’s meeting with Margaret Thatcher shows us how she was “by political preference” a Unionist.
This 1984 memo to the Taoiseach is why you can't buy bangers at Halloween
You can buy all the toy gun caps you like though.
John Hume was 'rather blunt' with Margaret Thatcher in secret meeting
Notes from a secret meeting have just been released.
NI Secretary of State referred to Ian Paisley as a 'schizophrenic'
James Prior said the remark during a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Barry in October 1983
Thatcher considered redrawing NI border to move Catholic areas south
The plan was revealed by British state papers released under the 30 year rule.
Minister objected to military vehicles factory setting up shop in Ireland in 1983
The Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism Frank Cluskey thought Ireland should take a restrictive attitude to the manufacturing of military equipment in Ireland.
Haughey government decided ministers should get a safe and shredder in their homes
If they required them, that is. The Fine Gael-led coalition tried to get them back in 1983 after they came to power.
Cornflakes and Ribena among foods banned during Mugabe's 1983 visit to Ireland
State papers have revealed Mrs Mugabe’s dietary requirements.
The ‘Free Nicky Kelly’ fliers found in New York’s subway in 1983
Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald and Minister Michael Noonan also came under considerable pressure from Nobel Peace Prize winner Seán MacBride.
The Department of Finance wanted to get rid of the government jet
The Cabinet and the Taoiseach wanted to keep the £2.5 million aeroplane.
Govt nervous about British nuclear plans and wanted cover ‘if anything went wrong’
An internal memo from the Department of Foreign Affairs shows the government wanted to “cover themselves in the event of anything going wrong” at Windscale.
Haughey believed Jimmy Savile would be a good mediator for Thatcher dealings
A letter in the National Archives reveals details of a meeting between the pair at the Central Remedial Clinic in the 1980s.
Government wanted to play down its involvement in Kissinger visit
But he was given an official lunch, multiple tete-a-tetes with the Taoiseach and security detail.
Bishops given copy of Attorney General's advice ahead of 1983 referendum
The Bishop of Clonfert was also given unfettered access to the Attorney General in the lead up to the abortion referendum.
