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The confidential briefing note is part of the tranche of documents made public in the annual release of State papers from the Irish National Archives. An Irish Department of Foreign Affairs official focusing on justice and security created the list in October 2002. The document starts by referencing a 1999 interview given by George Mitchell, the chairman of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, in which he claimed the British and Irish governments, as well as Northern Ireland’s political parties, had leaked information to manipulate public opinion. However, he further accused the NIO of attempting to sabotage the process by leaking information on British Government policy to the media. Mr Mitchell, a former US senator, is said to have expressed alarm and anger over the frequency of leaks from the NIO – saying they were uniquely “designed to undermine the policy of the British Government of which they were a part”. The Irish civil servant notes Mr Mitchell himself was subjected to an attempted “smear” when he first arrived in Northern Ireland, as newspaper articles falsely claimed his chief of staff Martha Pope had had a liaison with Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly with ulterior motives. The Irish civil servant goes on to list several “leaks”, starting with the publication of a proposed deal in a newspaper while “intense negotiations” for the Downing Street Declaration were under way. Next, the Department lists two “high-profile and damaging leaks issued from the NIO”. A so-called “gameplan” document was leaked in February 1998, showing papers had been prepared weeks before the Drumcree march on July 6, 1997. In the preceding years, there had been standoffs and clashes as nationalists opposed the procession of an Orange parade down Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The gameplan document showed then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam, who was publicly expressing a desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, advocated “finding the lowest common denominator for getting some Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road”. In 1997, a large number of security forces were deployed to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident sparked heightened tension and a wave of rioting. The document further describes the release of a document submitted by the NIO’s director of communications to the secretary of state as a “second major leak”. It claims a publicity strategy was released to the DUP in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and showed how the UK Government would support a yes vote in a referendum following any talks agreement. In addition, it is claimed unionists used leaked sections of the Patten report on policing to invalidate its findings ahead of its publication in 1999. The report recommended the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the changing of symbols, and a 50-50 recruitment policy for Catholics and Protestants. At the time, UUP leader David Trimble said the recommendations would lead to a corruption of policing in Northern Ireland. Chris Patten, chairman of the independent commission on policing, said some of the assertions were a “total fabrication” and designed to “muddy the waters” to create a difficult political atmosphere. Elsewhere, the author notes it was leaked to the media there was serious disagreement between the governments of the UK and Ireland on the composition of that commission – with not a single name submitted by the Irish side being accepted by the other. The author notes this incident, still under the heading “NIO leaks”, was believed by British officials to have emanated from the Irish side. The report turns to leaks of other origin, claiming “disgruntled Special Branch officers in Northern Ireland” were blamed by the British Government for a series of releases about the IRA which were designed to damage Sinn Fein in the 2001 general election in Northern Ireland. One senior Whitehall source was quoted in the Guardian as complaining that Special Branch was “leaking like a sieve” after details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of leading Tories – described at the time as a “hit list” – was passed to the BBC in April 2002. The briefing note adds: “This was followed days later by a leak to The Sunday Telegraph which alleged that senior IRA commanders bought Russian special forces rifles in Moscow last year. “The newspaper said it was passed details by military intelligence in London.” The briefing note adds that other Special Branch leaks were associated with the Castlereagh break-in. The final incident in the document notes the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Omagh bombing was also leaked to the press in December 2001. Then Northern Ireland secretary John Reid said at the time: “Leaks are never helpful and usually malicious – I will not be commenting on this report until I have seen the final version.” The reason for creating the list of leaks, which the Irish National Archives holds in a folder alongside briefing notes for ministers ahead of meetings with officials from the UK Government and NIO, is not outlined in the document itself. – This document is based on material in 2024/130/6.The Ifira Ports Development Services (IPDS) yesterday declared VT50 million in dividends to its two shareholders, the Vanuatu Government and Ifira Trustees Limited (ITL). ITL which owns 51% shares received VT25,500,000 while the government with 49% shares gets VT24, 500,000. The caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Charlot Salwai, caretaker Ministers of Finance Johnny Koanapo and Infrastructure Xavier Emanuel Harry received the dividend on behalf of the government from the Chairman of IPDS and Paramount Chief of Ifira, Pa’au Nimanu Mantoi Kalsakau III. Yesterday’s presentation of the dividend cheques is a result of the company’s positive financial performance, said the IPDS Chairman. “I am proud to report that IPDS continues to grow and generate profits, allowing it to return dividends to its shareholders. Despite the challenges posed by the country’s economic conditions, political instability, and other issues, the company has remained operational,” he said. Mantoi Kalsakau III highlighted some achievements of IPDS, such as the early repayment of its nearly VT9 billion Lapetasi loan with the Japanese International Cooperation Association, leaving a remaining balance of VT5.9 billion. He said the Lapetasi International Container Wharf handled 20,758 containers from June last year to May this year, an increase of 3,834 compared to last year. To keep up with the higher demand, the company bought a prime mover and two vehicles to replace old ones. IPDS plans to improve its infrastructure by expanding the container freight warehouse and reefer tower to accommodate the increase in containers. “IPDS made a profit from its operations of VT582,705,563, with a net profit after depreciation of VT58,986,000, compared to VT44.7 million in 2023. The profit increased as the number of containers and cargo rose, while at the same time, tariffs increased. With this profit, the company’s value has now reached VT3.2 billion,” the Chairman conveyed. The company has been paying dividends to its shareholders every year since 2014. Last year, it distributed VT30 million, bringing the total amount of dividends paid to date to VT295 million. Mantoi Kalsakau III assured that IPDS will continue to uphold its social responsibility to the community. Before delivering his address yesterday, the PM on behalf of the government paid tribute to one of the company’s directors and former Member of Parliament, Ephraim Kalsakau, who had passed away. He commended the IPDS Chairman and his board and the management for generating profits, being prudent, and delivering dividend payouts. The directors of IPDS, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Controller, senior managers and staff members are commended for their hard work. He said that IPDS is a demonstration that indigenous people can successfully run businesses in the country. He also emphasised the company's importance in supporting the country's economic development. Salwai said the company’s financial stability reflects the success of the collaboration between the company and the government, serving as a model of public-private partnership. IPDS Board Members and shareholders were presented yesterday for the dividend handover ceremony.

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