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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Informal British-Irish Bilaterals 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.

Informal British-Irish Bilaterals

This committee has been created to model bilateral contact between British and Irish government delegates which happened outside of the more formal structures set up for intergovernmental negotiation. These informal meetings were sometimes crucial to the development of 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: Informal British-Irish Bilaterals at the end of its timeline.

Proposal Regarding the Size of the British and Irish Delegations for the Joint Declaration Initiative - Three Delegates per Group

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Jan 1992, 12:30

Proposal Regarding the Size of the British and Irish Delegations for the Joint Declaration Initiative - Three Delegates per Group

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 10 Jan 1992, 12:30

[Editors' note: The Butler-Nally meeting on 7 February 1992 was attended by Dermot Nally, Noel Dorr and Seán Ó hUiginn on the Irish side, and Robin Butler, John Chilcot and Quentin Thomas on the British side.]

Quentin Thomas to Relay That the British Government Remains Unable to Adopt a Substantive Approach

Creator event:

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

Quentin Thomas to Relay That the British Government Remains Unable to Adopt a Substantive Approach

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The meeting was conducted on these terms.]

Rename Convention to Forum

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 09 Dec 1993, 18:00

Rename Convention to Forum

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 09 Dec 1993, 18:00

4. [...] Mansergh thought that the Irish might have no difficulty about the word "Forum".

Joint Declaration: JD6

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD6

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

British Government: Ten Principles

Creator event:

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

British Government: Ten Principles

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

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

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

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)

Possible Reference in Paragraph 3 to Abiding by All Principles of the 1985 Agreement

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 04 Oct 1993, 12:00

Possible Reference in Paragraph 3 to Abiding by All Principles of the 1985 Agreement

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)

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

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 11 Nov 1993, 19:00

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

Irish Draft Communiqué for Meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey

Creator event:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 03 Dec 1991, 12:30

Irish Draft Communiqué for Meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 03 Dec 1991, 12:30

[Editors' Note: Dermot Nally handed the Irish draft communique for the meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey scheduled for 3 December 1991 to David Blatherwick on the afternoon of 3 December 1991.]

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration

Creator event:

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

Principles for Inclusion in a Joint Declaration

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The conclusions of the meeting were circulated.]

Constitutional Issues

Creator event:

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

Constitutional Issues

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The text on constitutional issues handed over by Quentin Thomas during the meeting was circulated.]

Joint Declaration: JD8

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD8

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: JD8 was circulated.]

Note on the Importance of the Joint Declaration to the Taoiseach

Creator event:

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

Note on the Importance of the Joint Declaration to the Taoiseach

People: Quentin Thomas

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: 'He said he would convey again to his people the points I had made about the importance the Taoiseach attached to the initiative.']

Four Building Blocks for a Joint Declaration (Paragraph 4)

Creator event:

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

Four Building Blocks for a Joint Declaration (Paragraph 4)

People: Quentin Thomas

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: This document was circulated as one of the conclusions of the meeting.]

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

People: Quentin Thomas Seán Ó hUiginn

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: This revised paragraph was reported to the Irish government delegation in an attachment to the minute.] Amendments which Mr. Thomas felt would be helpful on our revised Paragraph 4 4. The Prime Minister reiterates on behalf of the...

Framework Agreement

Creator event:

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

Framework Agreement

Last decision:

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

I said we would consider it carefully and would be giving thought to preparation of a paper of our own.

Updated Paragraph 4 (28 September 1993)

Creator event:

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

Updated Paragraph 4 (28 September 1993)

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The updated version of JD4 was conveyed to the British delegation for consideration.]

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)

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The letter was circulated.]

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: 01 Oct 1993, 12:00

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

People: Quentin Thomas

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The various proposals made during the meeting were reported back to both delegations for further consideration.]

Joint Declaration: JD9

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD9

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: The new Irish draft of the Joint Declaration (JD9) was circulated.]

Joint Declaration: JD12

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD12

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: JD12 was reported back to the British government delegation with the self-determination sentence re-ordered in this way.]

Joint Declaration: JD13

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD13

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: This version of the Joint Declaration, with the additions proposed by Archbishop Eames, was reported back to the British government as JD13. It was also the version under discussion at the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 November 1993.]

Joint Declaration: JD15

Creator event:

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

Joint Declaration: JD15

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

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 09 Dec 1993, 18:00

5. [...] This should be discussed between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach tomorrow, as should the timing of the Irish Government's announcement of a Convention (or Forum): his remarks suggested that we should open the bidding by asking for quite a...

Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration

Creator event:

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

Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration

Last decision:

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993), Date: 09 Dec 1993, 18:00

5. [...] This should be discussed between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach tomorrow, as should the timing of the Irish Government's announcement of a Convention (or Forum): his remarks suggested that we should open the bidding by asking for quite a...

New Final Paragraph: "Non-Paper"

Creator event:

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

New Final Paragraph: "Non-Paper"

People: Roderic Lyne

Last decision:

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

[Editors' Note: Roderic Lyne's 'non-paper' became the basis for further discussion of the final paragraph between Robin Butler and Dermot Nally on 13 December 1993.]