Northern Ireland Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee

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The Northern Ireland Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee was formed in 1974 to establish a uniform approach to news and policy guidance among senior representatives and chief information officers of the Northern Ireland Office, the then Northern Ireland Executive, the Army, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.[1]

History

IPCC Meeting 27 August 1974, Stormont Castle

The meeting concluded that it would concern itself with information policy in a strategic context, and would promote and co-ordinate a positive public relations policy. Meetings would not normally be minuted. Mr Broderick was tasked to produce a paper on 'the Army view of a positive Public Relations Policy for the Province' ahead of the next meeting.[3]

Army Information Policy Paper, 6 September 1974

On 6 September 1974, Broderick circulated a paper entitled 'Information Policy: Its use in Northern Ireland.[4] Broderick also circulated an annexe entitled 'The Undermining of the IRA's will to fight'.[5]

IPCC Meeting 11 September 1974, Stormont Castle

This meeting decided against appointing a special coordinator of information on public opinion. It was agreed that 'Army IP paper (IRA Annex)' would be considered by a subcommittee of information officers, who would report on its feasibility. As some numbered points are missing from the report of the meeting in National Archives file CJ 4/887 it is possible other conclusions have been redacted.[6]

A letter from BN Webster to David Gilliland suggests that the meeting also concluded that a subcommittee of Gilliland, Webster, Broderick and McGookin should examine Broderick's paper as a whole in order to devise proposals to put to ministers.[7]

Subcommittee Meeting on Army Information Policy paper Annexe "A", 13 September 1974

Subcommittee Meeting on Army Information Policy paper, 24 September

External resources

  • National archives CJ 4/887. Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee. Chief Press Officer's file. Setting-up. Working papers. Future policy. 1974 Aug 13 - 1975 May 23.
  • National Archives FCO 26/1570 Northern Ireland: Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee; papers and correspondence. 1974 Jan 01 - 1974 Dec 31.

Notes

  1. Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee, F.W. Armstrong to R. Seaman, 16 August 1974. National archives file CJ 4/887.
  2. Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee: First Meeting, 27 August 1974. National archives file CJ 4/887.
  3. Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee: First Meeting, 27 August 1974. National archives file CJ 4/887.
  4. Information Policy: Its Use in Northern Ireland, 6 September 1974. National archives file CJ 4/887.
  5. The undermining of the IRA's Will to Fight, 6 September 1974. National archives file CJ 4/887.
  6. Information Policy Co-ordinating Committee: Second Meeting, 11 September 1974. National archives file CJ 4/887.
  7. Information Policy, BN Webster to Gilliland, 13 September 1974. National archives file CJ 4/887.