Confidential files released as part of the State Papers by the National Archives revealed Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader David Trimble objected to Britain being referred to as “overseas” in terms of the Northern Ireland market.
The situation was so delicate that a number of meetings were held in 2003-2004 to resolve the impasse with tourism having been determined to have “an all-island” approach.
Under the Good Friday Agreement, tourism across the entire island was singled out as having an area for enormous potential through co-operation.
Tourism Ireland (TI) was established in 2002 to promote the sector across the across the entire island.
TI replaced Bord Fáilte Éireann in the Republic and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
However, Mr Trimble formally objected to a marketing strategy and this was discussed at a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) meeting on May 6, 2003.
There can be no unionist veto on North/South co-operation
One file noted there was a delay in adopting the marketing strategy.
“This decision had been blocked by Secretary of State [Paul] Murphy, following objections raised by David Trimble to the designation of Great Britain as part of [TI’s] ‘overseas’ market,” the file noted.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was so annoyed over the direct intervention of Mr Trimble that he raised it with British prime minister Tony Blair.
“This was unacceptable and that [the Irish government] expected the North-South bodies to be allowed to get on with their important work without such interference,” another file noted.
In January 2004, Irish officials again raised the matter with their British counterparts.
“We have been pragmatic with the British, and have, so far, adhered to the ‘care and maintenance’ undertakings, agreed in deference to UUP sensitivities, in exchange for the continued operation of the bodies,” it recorded.
The official noted that the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended at the time for “considerably longer” than was originally envisaged.
“The reluctance on the British side to progress even those projects which have been mandated by the [North/South Ministerial Council], due to political [unionist] sensitivities, must be challenged”.
“There can be no unionist veto on North/South co-operation. Successful functioning of these bodies is of strategic importance to us
“The success of Tourism Ireland, for example, is not a political issue.”
Tourism across the island was already a multi-billion euro industry with over 100,000 people employed and critical spin-off benefits for the food, beverage, craft, transport, hospitality and even manufacturing sectors.