State Papers: Taoiseach doubted Sinn Féin and SDLP accurately represented nationalists in the North

Thirty years ago, Taoiseach John Bruton warned of the risks of entering peace talks without a clear understanding of nationalist voters’ core concerns.

Taoiseach John Bruton had a firm view that neither Sinn Féin nor the SDLP were accurately representing the views of ordinary members of the nationalist community in Northern Ireland.

State papers released by the National Archives show that the Fine Gael leader, who became taoiseach in December 1994, considered conducting opinion polling to better understand the priorities of Northern nationalists during the peace process.