Discussion: All Ireland Relations: Both British and Irish: 
by Stephen Plowden

(Continued from page 43)

If this approach were adopted, it is still unlikely that a detailed settlement could be worked out before the deadline of May 1998 set for the current talks, but enough progress could be achieved by then to allow the deadline to be lifted. It is important that the voice of civil society and the general public in Northern Ireland should be heard as well as that of the political parties. To enable that to happen, discussion groups and social surveys should be undertaken as soon as possible.