Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)

This project models the series of formal and informal negotiations which led to the publication, in December 1993, of a declaration issued jointly by the British and Irish Governments. The Joint Declaration was a critical policy document which paved the way for a ceasefire and the entry of Sinn Féin into formal talks. It also laid out a shared set of principles – including, crucially, self-determination for the people of Ireland subject to the consent of the people of Northern Ireland – which would come to underpin the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and provide a framework for its ratification.

Irish Government

This committee has been created to model internal Irish Government documents and meetings.

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The list of documents under consideration by committee: Irish Government at the end of its timeline.


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Oct 1993, 12:00

Irish Government Line after Meeting John Hume

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Oct 1993, 12:00

[Editors' Note: The removal of the word 'suggested' by hand implies that this was the final version of the statement.]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Oct 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: JD11


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 12 Dec 1993, 09:00

New Final Paragraph: "Non-Paper"

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 12 Dec 1993, 09:00

[Editors' Note: The version of the final paragraph discussed during this meeting was the 'non-paper' tabled by Roderic Lyne.]



Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 25 Nov 1989, 12:00

Proposal for a Democratic Over-all Political and Diplomatic Strategy


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Mar 1993, 12:00

Note on Possible Institutional Arrangements between North and South

People: Dermot Nally


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 29 Mar 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: Early Draft


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 20 Apr 1993, 12:00

A New Approach to the Northern Ireland Problem?

People: Noel Dorr


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Jun 1993, 12:00

Speaking Notes on JD6


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 29 Jun 1993, 12:00

Some Briefing Points on the Draft Declaration

People: Martin Mansergh


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 14 Jul 1993, 12:00

British Government: Ten Principles


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 14 Jul 1993, 12:00

British Commentary on JD6


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 14 Jul 1993, 12:00

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 23 Jul 1993, 12:00

Notes on Recent Meeting

People: Martin Mansergh


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Sep 1993, 12:00

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Sep 1993, 12:00

Constitutional Issues


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Sep 1993, 12:00

Resolution to Mandate the Liaison Group to Create a Joint Framework Document


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Sep 1993, 12:00

Resolution to Use the Language from the Joint Framework Document to Solve Paragraph 4


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 15 Sep 1993, 12:00

Reflections on Possible Constitutional Change

People: Martin Mansergh


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 22 Sep 1993, 18:00

Hume/Adams Statement (2)


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 24 Sep 1993, 12:00

Framework Agreement


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 24 Sep 1993, 12:00

Four Building Blocks for a Joint Declaration (Paragraph 4)


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 25 Sep 1993, 12:00

Hume-Adams Statement (25 September 1993)


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 30 Sep 1993, 12:00

Note on the Joint Declaration Initiative (30 September 1993)

People: Dermot Nally


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Oct 1993, 12:00

Framework Agreement [First British Draft as Discussed in Liaison Group on 1 October 1993]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Oct 1993, 12:00

Reply from John Major to Albert Reynolds (24 September 1993)


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Oct 1993, 12:00

Questions Surrounding the Joint Declaration Initiative as Discussed by Thomas and Ó hUiginn on 1 October 1993


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 20 Oct 1993, 12:00

Letter from John Major to Albert Reynolds Outlining His Decision Not to Proceed with JD12


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 29 Oct 1993, 12:00

Joint Statement by the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister (29 October 1993)


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 09 Nov 1993, 12:00

Briefing Points on the Joint Declaration (JD13)


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 16 Nov 1993, 18:00

Joint Declaration: JD14


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 26 Nov 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: Alternative British Draft


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 03 Dec 1993, 18:00

Joint Declaration: JD14


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Dec 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: JD15

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 11:00

[Editors' Note: Further amendments were proposed to JD15.]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Dec 1993, 12:00

Alternative Announcement of Irish Convention


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 08 Dec 1993, 09:00

Loyalist List of Rights and Principles


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 18:00

Joint Declaration: JD15


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 18:00

Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 18:00

Secure Civil and Ecclesiastic Support for the Joint Declaration


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 18:00

Press Line


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 10:00

Joint Declaration: JD15


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 17:00

Alternative Paragraphs 10-12

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Jan 1989, 00:00

Discussion Paper Outlining Principles for a Solution and Proposals for a Peace Forum

People: Martin Mansergh

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Jan 1989, 00:00

[Editors' Note: The document was sent to Father Alec Reid.]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 03 Dec 1991, 12:00

Irish Draft Communiqué for Meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 03 Dec 1991, 12:00

[Editor's note: The draft communique was handed by Dermot Nally to the British Ambassador on 3 December 1991.]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 16 Dec 1991, 12:00

Joint Declaration: JD2


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Jun 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: JD6

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Jun 1993, 12:00

[Editors' Note: JD6 was handed over to the British Government in a meeting between Reynolds and Butler on 6 June 1993.]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Jun 1993, 12:00

Aide-Mémoire from the Irish Government Accompanying JD6

People: Albert Reynolds


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 23 Jul 1993, 12:00

Resolution to Negotiate on JD6 as an Irish Government Proposal

People: Martin Mansergh

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 23 Jul 1993, 12:00

[Editors' Note: This course of action is put to the British Government.]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Sep 1993, 12:00

Letter from Albert Reynolds to John Major (7 September 1993)

People: Albert Reynolds

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Sep 1993, 12:00

[Editors' Note: This letter was sent to John Major on 7 September 1993.]



Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 28 Sep 1993, 12:00

Updated Paragraph 4 (28 September 1993)

People: Seán Ó hUiginn

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 28 Sep 1993, 12:00

As conveyed by O hUiginn on 28.9.93


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Oct 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: JD9

Last decision:



Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 05 Oct 1993, 12:00

Irish Government Line after Meeting John Hume


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 07 Oct 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 20 Oct 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: JD12


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 27 Oct 1993, 20:00

Speech by Dick Spring in the Dáil Debate on Northern Ireland (27 October 1993)

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 27 Oct 1993, 20:00

[Editors' Note: This speech was discussed in various committees.]


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 02 Nov 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: Eames' Additions


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 11 Nov 1993, 12:00

Letter from Albert Reynolds to John Major (11 November 1993)

People: Albert Reynolds


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 16 Nov 1993, 12:00

Letter from Albert Reynolds to Jim Molyneaux

People: Albert Reynolds


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Dec 1993, 12:00

Letter from Albert Reynolds to John Major (6 December 1993)

People: Albert Reynolds

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Dec 1993, 12:00

[Editors' Note: This letter was handed over during a Butler/Nally meeting on 7 December 1993.]




Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 10:00

Agreement on Legal Status of Joint Declaration


Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 18:30

Magee List