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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings Document Library

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.

Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings

This committee has been created to model meetings between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach.

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Committee Document Library View

The list of documents under consideration by committee: Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings at the end of its timeline.

Joint Communiqué on Meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 04 Dec 1991, 15:30

Joint Communiqué on Meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 04 Dec 1991, 15:30

[Editors' Note: This version of the draft joint communiqué was eventually released by both Governments in Dublin on 4 December 1991.]

Communiqué

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 16 Jun 1993, 18:45

Communiqué

People: John Major Albert Reynolds

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 16 Jun 1993, 18:45

[Editors' Note: The communiqué was issued.]

Letter from John Major to Albert Reynolds Regarding a Speech in Dublin

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 25 May 1992, 12:00

Letter from John Major to Albert Reynolds Regarding a Speech in Dublin

People: John Major

Speaking Note for the British Delegation for Meeting between Albert Reynolds and John Major

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 25 Sep 1992, 12:00

Speaking Note for the British Delegation for Meeting between Albert Reynolds and John Major

Speaking Note for the British Delegation for Meeting between Albert Reynolds and John Major

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 25 Sep 1992, 12:45

Speaking Note for the British Delegation for Meeting between Albert Reynolds and John Major

Joint Communiqué on Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 25 Sep 1992, 18:00

Joint Communiqué on Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds

Joint Declaration: JD6

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Jun 1993, 18:00

Joint Declaration: JD6

British Government: Ten Principles

Creator event:

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

British Government: Ten Principles

Convey Objections

Creator event:

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

Convey Objections

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration

Creator event:

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

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Sep 1993, 13:00

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration

Constitutional Issues

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 01 Sep 1993, 13:00

Constitutional Issues

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 Mandate the Liaison Group to Create a Joint Framework Document

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

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

Framework Agreement

Creator event:

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

Framework Agreement

Joint Declaration: JD8

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD8

Paragraph 4 of JD8 as Revised by Thomas and Ó hUiginn

Creator event:

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

Paragraph 4 of JD8 as Revised by Thomas and Ó hUiginn

Hume-Adams Statement (25 September 1993)

Creator event:

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

Hume-Adams Statement (25 September 1993)

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

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

Revised Intelligence Assessment of PIRA Attitude to the Joint Declaration

Creator event:

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

Revised Intelligence Assessment of PIRA Attitude to the Joint Declaration

Assessment of Unionist Reaction to the Joint Declaration

Creator event:

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

Assessment of Unionist Reaction to the Joint Declaration

Joint Declaration: JD13

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD13

Reply from John Major to Albert Reynolds (12 November 1993)

Creator event:

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

Reply from John Major to Albert Reynolds (12 November 1993)

Joint Declaration: JD15

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 15:00

Joint Declaration: JD15

Joint Declaration: JD15

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 12:30

Joint Declaration: JD15

Aide-Mémoire from the Irish Government Accompanying JD6

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Jun 1993, 18:00

Aide-Mémoire from the Irish Government Accompanying JD6

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Jun 1993, 18:00

6. I am copying this minute and the attachments to the Private Secretaries to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and to Sir David Gillmore and Mr Chilcot.

British Commentary on JD6

Creator event:

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

British Commentary on JD6

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

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)

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The letter was circulated.]

Joint Declaration: JD12

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 08 Oct 1993, 12:00

Joint Declaration: JD12

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: 20 Oct 1993, 12:00

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

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The letter from Major to Reynolds was reported back to the Irish government delegation.]

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

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)

People: John Major Albert Reynolds

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: This statement was circulated.]

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

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)

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: This letter was drafted and sent following the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 November 1993, where the British delegation made it clear that their instructions were still not to engage with JD13.]

Joint Declaration: JD14

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD14

Joint Declaration: Alternative British Draft

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: Alternative British Draft

Last decision:

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

16. The Taoiseach said he would present the text to his Cabinet colleagues. The British side knew from his comments what his recommendations would be.

Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 15:00

Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration

Secure Civil and Ecclesiastic Support for the Joint Declaration

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 15:00

Secure Civil and Ecclesiastic Support for the Joint Declaration

Press Line

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Dec 1993, 15:00

Press Line