State Papers 1990: Haughey overruled plans to allow Mandela address joint sitting of Dáil and Seanad

Nelson Mandela addressing houses of the Oireachtas in Dublin, July 2, 1990

Plans by senior officials to allow Nelson Mandela address a joint sitting of the Dáil and Seanad during his visit to Ireland four months after his release from prison in South Africa in 1990 were overruled by Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, State papers have revealed.

Documents from the Department of the Taoiseach released under the 30-year rule show the Fianna Fáil leader directed that Mr Mandela should only address the Dáil as appearances before a combined sitting of both houses of the Oireachtas were confined to heads of state.