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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Butler-Nally 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.

Butler-Nally Meetings

This committee has been created to model meetings of the Butler/Nally Group, which was one of the key structures in the drafting of the Declaration. From Autumn 1993 onwards, Chilcot and Ó hUiginn were also part of the negotiating team working on the Joint Declaration.

To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.

Committee Document Library View

The list of documents under consideration by committee: Butler-Nally Meetings at the end of its timeline.

Irish Government to Delay Reporting to British Government

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Irish Government to Delay Reporting to British Government

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

7. The Irish Government would try to contain the report from Mr Hume as long as possible.

Confirmation That No Side Agreements Are Associated with the Declaration

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Confirmation That No Side Agreements Are Associated with the Declaration

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

On the points raised by Butler, Nally confirmed there were no side agreements. The text was specifically designed to produce a result related to a certain set of people. It left out various other dimensions which could be covered in other ways.

Confirmation That the Irish Government Considers the Declaration Compatible with the Talks Process

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Confirmation That the Irish Government Considers the Declaration Compatible with the Talks Process

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

He confirmed the view that the Declaration would be compatible with the Talks process. If peace was established, the Talks process could complement the Declaration.

New Final Paragraph: "Non-Paper"

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 09:30

New Final Paragraph: "Non-Paper"

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 09:30

[Editors' Note: It is clear from both working drafts that the text they were working from for discussion of the final paragraph was Robin Butler's 'non-paper'.]

Agreement on Legal Status of Joint Declaration

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 15:45

Agreement on Legal Status of Joint Declaration

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 15:45

2. On the substance, Mr Nally handed on the following messages: i[.] no problems about treating the Joint Declaration as a "political" rather than "legal" document and the Taoiseach would do whatever was necessary to achieve that.

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

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

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)

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

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)

Joint Declaration: JD9

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD9

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)

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

Creator event:

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

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

Joint Declaration: JD15

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 09:30

Joint Declaration: JD15

Note on the Likelihood of Success of the Joint Declaration

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 09:30

Note on the Likelihood of Success of the Joint Declaration

Proposal Regarding the Size of the British and Irish Delegations for the Joint Declaration Initiative

Creator event:

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

Proposal Regarding the Size of the British and Irish Delegations for the Joint Declaration Initiative

People: Dermot Nally Robin Butler

Last decision:

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

In conclusion, Mr Nally and I agreed that I would discuss with you the point we had reached and pass any immediate comments to him before Christmas. Subject to that, and subject to the Taoiseach’s and the Prime Minister’s agreement, we should meet...

British Commentary on JD6

Creator event:

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

British Commentary on JD6

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

People: Robin Butler

British Government: Ten Principles

Creator event:

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

British Government: Ten Principles

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: This document was circulated.]

Resolution to Negotiate on JD6 as an Irish Government Proposal

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 04 Aug 1993, 15:00

Resolution to Negotiate on JD6 as an Irish Government Proposal

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 04 Aug 1993, 15:00

They would note the request and respond in September.

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

Last decision:

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

8. O hUiginn said this would be put to the Taoiseach and his instructions awaited.

Sinn Féin Not to Enter Talks Immediately

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Sinn Féin Not to Enter Talks Immediately

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

[Editors' Note: The Irish delegation agreed to discuss this with the Taoiseach.]

Taoiseach to Issue an Assurance That the Declaration Would Be a Basis for a PIRA Ceasefire

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Taoiseach to Issue an Assurance That the Declaration Would Be a Basis for a PIRA Ceasefire

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

On the fourth point he confirmed there were no direct contacts with the IRA on the Irish side either, so there could be no question of imputing direct contact to the British. He felt the Taoiseach would want to be helpful in the way they suggested.

Joint Declaration: JD10

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Joint Declaration: JD10

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

[Editors' Note: The text of JD10, as it was initially handed over, was reported back to the British Government.]

Joint Declaration: JD11

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Joint Declaration: JD11

Irish Government Line after Meeting John Hume

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

Irish Government Line after Meeting John Hume

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 06 Oct 1993, 11:15

[Editors' Note: These annotations were taken back and shared with the rest of the Irish delegation.]

Joint Declaration: JD14

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD14

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The conclusions of the meeting were reported back to their respective delegations.]

Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration

Creator event:

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

Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration

People: Robin Butler

Last decision:

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

The Irish Government said that they would take the mind of the Taoiseach on that.

Alternative Announcement of Irish Convention

Creator event:

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

Alternative Announcement of Irish Convention

People: Robin Butler Quentin Thomas David Blatherwick John Chilcot

Last decision:

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

2. On the four principal points raised by the Taoiseach at the end of the Dublin discussion: [...] – On the Convention, the Taoiseach's letter insists, and the Irish officials were under instructions, that the Convention is essential to the prospects...

Agreement on Legal Status of Joint Declaration

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 09:30

Agreement on Legal Status of Joint Declaration

People: Robin Butler

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 09:30

[Editors' Note: This point was put to the Taoiseach.]

Alternative Paragraphs 10-12

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 15:45

Alternative Paragraphs 10-12

People: Dermot Nally

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 13 Dec 1993, 15:45

[Editors' Note: These alternative paragraphs were reported to the Taoiseach. It is not clear whether, how, or when they were also reported back to the British government delegation.]