Abstract
The seventy-eight members of the Northern Ireland Convention started with at least one thing in common: a strong desire to resolve political differences by discussions among elected representatives rather than by gun battles among the many armed forces within the Province. The institutions of representative government give elected politicians their influence and legitimacy. A settlement obtained in debate and negotiation confirms the status of conventional party politicians; resolving differences by force is a repudiation of their position.
It would surely be better, Mr. Speaker, to give up not only a part, but if necessary, even the whole, of our ConÂstitution, to preserve the remainder.
Sir Boyle Roche in Parliament at Dublin, c. 1790
The air is thick with political impossibilities.
Irish Times, 17 September 1975
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© 1976 American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
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Rose, R. (1976). In Search of a Settlement. In: Northern Ireland. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15721-1_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15721-1_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-19732-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-15721-1
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