Friday, 01 May 1987

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact date unknown] The Sinn Féin paper, entitled Scenario for Peace was published at the time of the Ard Chomhairle in May 1987.

Sunday, 06 September 1987

Committee	Time	Description
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Father Reid wrote to Tom King describing his work with John Hume and encouraging a meeting with Gerry Adams.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown] Tom King received Father Reid's letter encouraging meetings with Sinn Féin.
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown] Tom King received Alec Reid's letter describing his work with John Hume and encouraging a meeting with Gerry Adams.

Friday, 01 January 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	00:00:01	[Editorial Session] Undated documents by Father Alec Reid, thought to be from 1987 or 1988.
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Alec Reid wrote to Gerry Adams and John Hume to initiate a dialogue. The first meeting is reported to take place on 11 January. The letter is described as being received "at the beginning of [1988]" in a subsequent letter by Gerry Adams.
SDLP	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown] John Hume received a letter from Alec Reid, inviting him to meet with Gerry Adams.
Sinn Féin	12:00:02	[Exact date and time unknown] Alec Reid's letter was brought to the attention of the Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle by Gerry Adams in January 1988. Date not specified in the current records.

Monday, 11 January 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] According to the summary of the Sinn Féin/SDLP talks produced by Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams and John Hume met for the first time on 11 January 1988.

Tuesday, 09 February 1988

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid telephoned John McConnell about a prisoner.

Thursday, 11 February 1988

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid telephoned J.E.McConnell about a Republican prisoner and discussed Sinn Féin's political position.

Thursday, 10 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A lunch meeting at Stormont House between Father Alec Reid and J. E. McConnell. The meeting was supposedly held to discuss prisoners, but actually included a discussion on Sinn Féin more generally and the recent killings in Gibraltar.

Sunday, 13 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A phone call between J.E.McConnell and Father Alec Reid regarding the forthcoming funeral of the IRA members killed in Gibraltar.

Monday, 14 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Sinn Féin document 'Towards a Strategy for Peace' was written.

Thursday, 17 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Ian Burns wrote to Jonathan Stephens concerning the communications between John McConnell and Father Alec Reid.
SDLP	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume wrote to Gerry Adams, outlining the SDLP position.
Sinn Féin	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Gerry Adams received John Hume's letter.
Hume-Adams	12:00:02	[Editorial session] This session has been created to show the first paper tabled by the SDLP under consideration in the formal process.

Friday, 18 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Sinn Féin document 'Towards a Strategy to Peace' was sent to John Hume.

Saturday, 19 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The first Sinn Fein paper was tabled.

Tuesday, 22 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The sub-committee established by the Ard Chomhairle met to discuss the SDLP proposals.

Wednesday, 23 March 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Sinn Féin and SDLP delegations met.

Wednesday, 18 May 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Editorial session: exact date and time unknown] The Sinn Féin sub-committee met weekly during the formal talks with the SDLP (Letter from Gerry Adams to John Hume on 14 August). We do not have dates or minutes of these meetings. An editorial decision has been taken to model some of these meetings to show the formulation of Sinn Féin position papers referred to the 'Hume-Adams Talks' for discussion.

Thursday, 19 May 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Sinn Féin and SDLP delegations met.

Sunday, 12 June 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Editorial session: exact date and time unknown] The Sinn Féin sub-committee prepared a document 'Persuading the British - a joint call' that was presented at the meeting on 13 June.
SDLP	12:00:00	[Editorial session: exact date and time unknown] The SDLP prepared two papers in response to the Sinn Féin documents which are tabled on 12 June 1988.

Monday, 13 June 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Sinn Féin and SDLP delegations met.

Monday, 11 July 1988

Committee	Time	Description
SDLP	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The SDLP prepared a written response to the discussions at previous meetings.
Hume-Adams	12:01:00	[Exact time unknown] A meeting of party leaders was held on this day, where it was agreed to review the situation to date.

Sunday, 14 August 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Editorial session] Gerry Adams wrote a letter of review, addressed to John Hume and reflecting on the talks with the SDLP. This is dated 14 August.
SDLP	12:00:01	[Editorial session] John Hume received the letter of review from Gerry Adams.
Hume-Adams	12:00:02	[Editorial Session] Gerry Adams' letter of review was written and handed to John Hume.

Monday, 22 August 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The two leaders met to review the talks between the SDLP and SInn Féin.

Tuesday, 30 August 1988

Committee	Time	Description
SDLP	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The SDLP wrote a statement marking the end of the talks with SInn Féin. It was not released until 5 September.

Monday, 05 September 1988

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	Sinn Féin issued a press statement to mark the end of the talks with the SDLP.
SDLP	12:00:00	The SDLP statement on the end of talks with Sinn Féin was released.

Sunday, 01 January 1989

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	00:00:00	[Editorial Session] An undated document from Tomás Ó Fiaich's archive which is thought to be written by Martin Mansergh in 1988 or 1989.
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	00:00:01	[Editorial Session] Undated document by Father Alec Reid from Tómas Ó Fiaich's archive, thought to have been written in 1988 or 1989.

Saturday, 01 April 1989

Committee	Time	Description
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The Armagh copy of the proposals is dated 'April 1989' in pencil on the first page.

Monday, 24 July 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	Peter Brooke replaced Tom King as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Friday, 11 August 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John McConnell met with Father Alex Reid in the former's office at Stormont House to discuss Sinn Fein's current strategy.

Wednesday, 16 August 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	17:00:00	Peter Brooke met with John Blelloch, Jonathan Stephens, R. O. Miles, John Deverell, John McConnell and Jim Daniell to discuss John McConnell's minute of a discussion with Alec Reid on 14 August 1989 and to agree a protocol for future meetings between the two.

Tuesday, 22 August 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] R. O. Miles wrote to Mr Daniell concerning the violence in Northern Ireland, de-colonisation, and discussions between Alec Reid and John McConnell

Friday, 25 August 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Blelloch wrote about the brief prepared for John McConnell's meeting with Alec Reid and a paper on security policy.

Friday, 01 September 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A.W. Stephens wrote to Ian Burns about the PIRA and the armed struggle.

Thursday, 07 September 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	11:45:00	Meeting between John McConnell and Father Alec Reid

Monday, 18 September 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Blelloch wrote a memo reflecting on the latest McConnell-Reid meeting. In it he suggests the inevitability of recognising Sinn Féin as part of any ceasefire arrangement.

Tuesday, 19 September 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Peter Brooke met with John Hume, who suggested that he make a "no strategic interest" speech at a time to be agreed with the SDLP leader.

Monday, 23 October 1989

Committee	Time	Description
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Reid and Murray wrote a covering letter for their "Proposal for a Democratic Over-all Political and Diplomatic Strategy for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation: A Pastoral Response to the Present Conflict".

Friday, 10 November 1989

Committee	Time	Description
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich wrote the covering letter to accompany the letter and proposal prepared by Fathers Reid and Murray on 23 October.

Thursday, 16 November 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	Alec Reid spoke with John McConnell on the telephone about a prisoner and their lack of recent contact.

Sunday, 19 November 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid telephoned John McConnell to arrange a meeting.

Monday, 20 November 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	17:00:00	[Exact time unknown] An internal meeting was held in the evening to discuss Father Reid's contacts with John McConnell.

Wednesday, 22 November 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid met with John McConnell.

Saturday, 25 November 1989

Committee	Time	Description
SDLP	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume received the Reid/Murray proposals.
Sinn Féin	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown] The Reid/Murray proposal was received by John Hume on the weekend of 25/26 November and was reportedly also sent to Gerry Adams and the Taoiseach at the same time.
Irish Government	12:00:02	[Exact date and time unknown] The Reid/Murray proposal was received by John Hume on the weekend of 25/26 November and was reportedly also sent to Gerry Adams and the Taoiseach at the same time.

Wednesday, 29 November 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Hume handed over the proposals made by Reid and Murray to Ian Burns.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown] Ian Burns circulated the papers received from John Hume to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Brooke and to other members of the Northern Ireland Office.

Wednesday, 06 December 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Ian Burns and John Hume met in the morning to discuss the Reid-Murray proposals.

Wednesday, 13 December 1989

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	A memo from Miles to Burns reviewed the Reid-Murray proposals.

Monday, 12 February 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid discussed developments with John McConnell.

Thursday, 22 February 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid telephoned John McConnell to arrange a meeting.

Monday, 26 February 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid met John McConnell to discuss ongoing Hume-Adams talks and various different peace initiatives.

Thursday, 01 March 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Ian Burns initiated a discussion on how to respond to Father Reid's suggestion that John McConnell could meet Gerry Adams in Armagh with Cardinal Ó Fiaich.

Sunday, 04 March 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid phoned John McConnell to arrange a meeting.

Monday, 05 March 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Blelloch and the Secretary of State responded to Ian Burns's request for guidance on responding to Father Reid.

Tuesday, 06 March 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Alec Reid met John McConnell to discuss the Reid-Murray proposals and dialogue with the PIRA.

Sunday, 01 April 1990

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	00:00:00	[Editorial session: exact date and time unknown] According to John Hume, Sinn Féin responded to the Reid/Murray proposal.
SDLP	12:00:00	[Editorial session: exact date and time unknown] The SDLP rejected the Reid/Murray proposals and communicated this decision to Reid.

Monday, 30 April 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Ian Burns and John Hume briefly discussed the Reid-Murray proposals.

Tuesday, 01 May 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Peter Brooke met with Cardinal Ó Fiaich and Archbishop Eames and was briefed on Fr Murphy and Rev Murphy's communications with the IRA.

Tuesday, 08 May 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Reid Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time and date unknown] John McConnell met with Father Alec Reid to continue their discussions around the latter's initiatives.
Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich died in Toulouse, France.

Saturday, 01 September 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Cardinal Daly met with Peter Brooke to discuss the Maze Chaplains' initiative.

Wednesday, 31 October 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] British government officials met with the Maze chaplains.

Wednesday, 07 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A final draft of the Whitbread Speech was circulated. The speech is shown as being referred out as we know it was shared in advance with members of the Republican movement.

Thursday, 08 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] An advance copy of Peter Brooke's Whitbread Speech was received by Sinn Féin.

Friday, 09 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown]Peter Brooke delivered the Whitbread speech, declaring that the British Government had "no selfish strategic or economic interest" in Northern Ireland.
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Danny McNeill spoke with Father Murphy and Reverend Murphy in private after a routine lunch engagement on prison matters. This meeting is dated as 10 November in the record of Dermot Gallagher's conversation with Father Murphy. However, it seems likely that the date is in error as the Whitbread speech had not yet happened. The record refers to the Remembrance Event happening 'the previous day (9 November). We have assumed that the routine lunch engagement on prison matters was on Friday 9 November (a weekday, and before the chaplains would have been aware of the Whitbread speech).

Tuesday, 13 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown: the meeting took place between 1 November and 21 November; a wider meeting was postponed from 13 November, so it is possible that the private meeting took place on that occasion instead.] Cahal Daly met privately with Peter Brooke to stress the urgency of responding to the Chaplains's initiative.

Tuesday, 20 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] John Blelloch and John McConnell met with Cahal Daly to discuss the Chaplains' initiative.

Wednesday, 21 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Cahal Daly met with the new PUS, John Chilcot and the new Head of the Political Affairs Division, Danny McNeill. The Irish report of this meeting (via John Murphy) dates it as Wednesday 21 November, while Danny McNeill's account specifies 20 November. We have taken Danny McNeill's dating since it is the more formal, first-hand account of the meeting.

Thursday, 22 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Maze Chaplains	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Danny McNeill met with Father Murphy and Reverend Murphy.

Wednesday, 28 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume met with Gerry Adams and later reported on his meeting to both the British and Irish governments.

Thursday, 29 November 1990

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time and date unknown] Hume called Dermot Gallagher on the evening of Thursday 29 November to report on his meeting with Gerry Adams. He also indicated that he would be arranging a further meeting to discuss the Adams proposal with the Taoiseach. We do not currently have a record of this subsequent meeting.

Wednesday, 05 December 1990

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Hume met Brooke privately at Westminster to brief him on recent discussions with Gerry Adams, in particular Adams proposal to move away from an armed strategy.

Thursday, 06 December 1990

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact timing unknown] Hume called Dermot Gallagher to report on his meeting with Peter Brooke.

Saturday, 15 December 1990

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Charles Haughey and John Major met in the margins of a European Council meeting in Rome.

Tuesday, 22 January 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume telephoned John Chilcot to discuss a conversation he had had with Gerry Adams.

Thursday, 24 January 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Danny McNeil provided a briefing on 'Political Movement and the Provisionals'.

Tuesday, 26 March 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	15:30:00	Peter Brooke gave a speech to the House of Commons launching the three-stranded talks.

Monday, 08 April 1991

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Charles Haughey and John Major met in the margins of a European Council meeting in Luxembourg.

Friday, 21 June 1991

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	19:30:00	Charles Haughey and John Major met in Downing Street.

Saturday, 29 June 1991

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Charles Haughey and John Major met in the margins of a European Council meeting in Luxembourg.

Monday, 02 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	This session has been modelled to record the creation of the British draft of the joint communiqué, enclosed in Richard Gozney's letter dated 2 December 1991.

Tuesday, 03 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The Irish draft communique for the meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey in Dublin was created.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall briefs John Major for his meeting with Charles Haughey on 4 December 1991.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Jonathan Margetts provides a separate briefing on Northern Ireland for John Major's meeting with Charles Haughey.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] David Blatherwick sends a fax briefing for John Major's meeting with Charles Haughey in Dublin.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Dermot Nally handed the Irish draft communique to the British Ambassador on this day.
British Government	13:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Richard Gozney commented on the Irish draft communique for the meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey.

Wednesday, 04 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	10:30:00	A tête-à-tête meeting was held between Prime Minister John Major and Taoiseach Charles Haughey, where the latter raised the possibility of a joint statement to be made by the two governments that he judged would secure a ceasefire.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	11:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Following their tête-à-tête, Haughey and Major attended a Plenary meeting with the full delegations. No mention was made of the Joint Declaration explicitly, but the Taoiseach signalled his intention to review the situation in Northern Ireland.
British Government	12:00:00	[Editors' note: This session has been created to model the amendments in the joint communique that was released on 4 December 1991, following the plenary meeting between John Major and Charles Haughey. The drafts are all undated, but since the original Irish draft communique is dated 3 December 1991, these revisions are presumed to have occurred between 3 and 4 December 1991.]
British Government	12:30:00	[Editors' note: This session has been created to model the amendments in John Major's opening statement for the Dublin press conference on 4 December 1991, following the plenary meeting between Major and Charles Haughey. Though the drafts are all undated, the nature of the revisions suggests they were made post the meeting, thus provisionally dated as 4 December 1991.]
British Government	13:00:00	[Editors' note: This session has been created to model the amendments in the notes for supplementaries on Northern Ireland, drafted for John Major's reference for the Dublin press conference on 4 December 1991, following the plenary meeting between Major and Charles Haughey. Though the drafts are all undated, the nature of the revisions suggests they were made post the meeting, thus provisionally dated as 4 December 1991.]
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	15:30:00	[Exact time unknown] The British and Irish Governments released a joint communique following John Major's meeting with Charles Haughey on 4 December 1991.

Thursday, 05 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	13:45:00	[Editors' note: This session has been created to model the amendments in the lines prepared for John Major regarding the bombing in Belfast on 4 December 1991].

Sunday, 08 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Butler and Nally met in December 1991 to consider the possibility of a Joint Declaration.

Monday, 16 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Editorial session] The editors have created this session to model JD2. We do not yet have evidence of exactly on what date or by whom it was created, but documents from the National Archives show that it was shown to Robin Butler by Dermot Nally for the first time on 16 December 1991. Mallie and McKittrick have written that it was drafted in October 1991, but Coakley and Todd, like the editors, can only date it to c. December 1991. In the absence of a citation for Mallie and McKittrick's dating, we have created it on the day it was shown to Robin Butler.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Peter Brooke wrote to Kenneth Baker, seeking his input on Brooke's proposal on the examination of the speciality law within the framework of Working Group II.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] First meeting between Dermot Nally and Robin Butler where Nally presented the first draft of the Joint Declaration that was given to the Irish Government by John Hume.

Tuesday, 17 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Kenneth Baker replied to Peter Brooke's proposal on the joint examination of the speciality rule from 16 December 1991.

Monday, 23 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] PIRA announces a ceasefire for 72 hours, between 24 and 26 December 1991.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Butler writes to Stephen Wall recording his meeting with Dermot Nally and proposing how to proceed further.
British Government	12:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Antony Pawson writes to Stephen Wall about the Christmas ceasefire announcement, enclosing a briefing about the line to take for his call with Charles Haughey and the statement prepared in response to the PIRA statement.
British Government	21:00:00	[Editors' note: This session has been created to model the release of the British Government's response to the PIRA statement.]

Tuesday, 24 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	08:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall briefed John Major for his call with Charles Haughey at 10 am.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	10:00:00	John Major had a conversation with Charles Haughey over the telephone.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall sent a handwritten note to John Major regarding the size of the Irish delegation for the Joint Declaration Initiative.

Tuesday, 31 December 1991

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall wrote to Robin Butler with John Major's view on expanding the size of the Irish delegation for the Joint Declaration Initiative.

Monday, 06 January 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Editors' note: Exact time unknown. John Bruton asked to meet the Prime Minister during his visit to London on the 27-28th January 1992.]

Friday, 10 January 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Editors' Note: Exact time unknown. Anthony Pawson and Stephen Wall discussed the membership of the Joint Declaration negotiation teams.]
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Hume met Major and asked for authority to tell the Provisional IRA that the British Government was taking the idea of a Joint Declaration seriously.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:30:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The Irish and British Governments decided on the size of the delegations for the Joint Declaration Initiative.

Monday, 20 January 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Since Hume was authorised to report his own impression of British Government engagement with the Joint Declaration back to the Provisionals, it seems likely that he may have done so via Gerry Adams at some point in January.

Friday, 24 January 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Editors' Note: Exact time unknown. Christopher Prentice provided a briefing for John Major's meeting with John Bruton.]
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Butler and Nally met for a second time on 24 January 1992, and Nally formally tabled the text of the Joint Declaration (JD2).

Thursday, 30 January 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Butler wrote to Stephen Wall attaching a copy of a draft Irish declaration with a commentary by the Northern Ireland Office.

Tuesday, 04 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall wrote to John Major, recommending that Major reject JD2.
British Government	12:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall informed Robin Butler of instructions from John Major for his meeting with Dermot Nally.

Friday, 07 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Butler and Nally met for a third time.

Monday, 10 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Richard Gozney wrote to Stephen Wall, enclosing David Blatherwick's dispatch from Dublin on the situation in the Republic of Ireland.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Albert Reynolds had a telephone conversation.

Tuesday, 11 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Editorial session] Albert Reynolds replaced Charles Haughey as Taoiseach.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Editorial session] Albert Reynolds replaced Charles Haughey as Taoiseach.

Friday, 14 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall briefed John Major briefing about the next Anglo-Irish Summit, scheduled for 26 February 1992.

Thursday, 20 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The Sinn Féin version of the Joint Declaration [JD3] was passed to John Hume. Hume shared it with British officials before 21 February and with Irish officials on 24 February.
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Sinn Féin produced an alternative version of the Joint Declaration.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:30:00	[Exact date and time unknown] At some time shortly before 26 February 1992, Hume handed over JD3 to the British government.

Friday, 21 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	13:00:00	[Exact time unknown] William Fittall wrote to Stephen Wall about the Joint Declaration Initiative in advance of the meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds. The letter enclosed JD3 and a briefing on the Joint Declaration for Major's reference.

Monday, 24 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] At some time shortly before the 26 February 1992, Hume handed over JD3 to the Irish government.
British Government	13:00:00	[Exact time unknown] David Blatherwick sent a message to the British Government, recording the pointers given to him by Dermot Nally in preparation for the Anglo-Irish Summit on 26 February 1992.

Tuesday, 25 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall prepared a brief for John Major for his meeting with Albert Reynolds on 26 February 1992.
British Government	12:30:00	[Exact time unknown] David Blatherwick sent a brief to the British Government in advance of the Prime Minister's meeting with the Taoiseach.

Wednesday, 26 February 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	18:30:00	Albert Reynolds and John Major had a tête-à-tête discussion. Dermot Nally and Stephen Wall joined as note takers.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	21:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Following their tête-à-tête, Reynolds and Major attended a working dinner with the full delegations.

Friday, 10 April 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew replaced Peter Brooke as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Friday, 01 May 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] At some time in May 1992, Hume handed over JD4 to the British Government.

Monday, 25 May 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major sent a letter to Albert Reynolds proposing a speech in Dublin.

Friday, 31 July 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Christopher Prentice sent a letter to Stephen Wall about the next Anglo-Irish Meeting.

Tuesday, 22 September 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Albert Reynolds had a phone conversation.

Wednesday, 23 September 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall wrote a briefing note with a background outline on the Anglo-Irish Summit scheduled for 25 September 1992.

Thursday, 24 September 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Stephen Wall sent a brief to John Major for his meeting with Albert Reynolds on 25 September 1992.
British Government	12:30:00	[Exact day and time unknown] The British delegation prepared a speaking note with the points to cover in the meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds for their meeting on 25 September 1992.
British Government	12:45:00	[Exact time unknown] William Fittall sent a letter to Stephen Wall with an attached background note on political developments and other topics of relevance for John Major's meeting with Albert Reynolds on 25 September 1992.

Friday, 25 September 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	John Major and Albert Reynolds met for a tête-à-tête discussion.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:45:00	Following their tête-à-tête, Albert Reynolds and John Major attended a working lunch with the full delegations.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	18:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The Irish and British Governments issued a joint communique following John Major's meeting with Albert Reynolds on 25 September 1992.

Sunday, 06 December 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Albert Reynolds met privately in Dublin.

Wednesday, 16 December 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	10:00:00	Patrick Mayhew gave a speech titled "Culture and Identity" at the Centre for the Study of Conflict at the University of Ulster at Coleraine.

Tuesday, 22 December 1992

Committee	Time	Description
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Gerry Adams replied to a speech made by Patrick Mayhew on 16 December 1992.

Wednesday, 23 December 1992

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	David Blatherwick wrote to the British Government regarding the press reaction to Gerry Adams's response to Patrick Mayhew's speech on December 16 1992.

Wednesday, 10 March 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Dermot Nally wrote a note to Albert Reynolds outlining his suggestions for possible institutional arrangements between North and South.

Monday, 15 March 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Sawers sent a report on the meeting that took place between Patrick Mayhew and James Bolger on 12 March 1993.

Monday, 29 March 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] This is a draft of the Joint Declaration amongst Dermot Nally's papers which has a pencilled (post-declaration) annotation giving this date and "(Hume/Adams?)". Since we have been unable to find another copy of this draft with more contextual information, the draft has been modelled here.

Thursday, 08 April 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne sent a note to William Fittall on some questions John Major would like Patrick Mayhew to bring up in the next NI Committee meeting on 15 April 1993.

Saturday, 10 April 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume and Gerry Adams met.

Tuesday, 20 April 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Noel Dorr produced a paper outlining different possible solutions to the Northern Ireland problem, which included both the talks and the Joint Declaration but recommended a third, separate option.

Thursday, 22 April 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Noel Dorr completed the annex to his paper outlining what a possible agreement, to be proposed by the two governments and co-signed by the Northern Ireland parties, might look like.

Friday, 23 April 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A Hume/Adams Statement was issued.

Thursday, 27 May 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Irish Government received confirmation from the PAC that they would accept JD6 as a basis for a ceasefire.

Saturday, 05 June 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Albert Reynolds telephoned John Major to arrange a time to hand over JD6.

Sunday, 06 June 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The editors have chosen to create JD6 on the day it was shown to the British Government until further records are available, although it existed prior to this.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Butler met with the Taoiseach, who handed over the latest draft of the Joint Declaration (JD6).
British Government	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Butler forwarded JD6 and the accompanying Irish Government aide-mémoire to other members of the British Government delegation, along with a letter recording the details of his meeting with the Taoiseach.
Butler-Nally Meetings	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] JD6 was handed over to the British Government on this day, and circulated.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] JD6 was handed over to the British Government on this day, and circulated.

Tuesday, 08 June 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Frank Murray received a letter containing briefing material for the Anglo-Irish Dinner meeting on 9 June 1993.
SDLP	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] On 8 June 1993, John Hume mentioned the existence of his alternative to JD6 (JD7), although he did not show him a draft until 9 July 1993. This is the earliest evidence we have for the existence of JD7, so the editors have chosen to create it here for now.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Hume met Chilcot and told him about the existence of JD7 (but did not show it to him).

Thursday, 10 June 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Northern Ireland Office produced a commentary on JD6 and the accompanying Irish government aide-mémoire.

Sunday, 13 June 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Nally met with Butler in London to discuss JD6.

Wednesday, 16 June 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	18:00:00	Major and Reynolds had a tête-à-tête meeting. Robin Butler, Dermot Nally and Roderic Lyne were also present. JD6 was discussed with a view to further negotiation.
Butler-Nally Meetings	18:40:01	[Editorial session] In a tête-à-tête meeting between Major and Reynolds, it was decided that Chilcot and Ó hUiginn should be invited to join the negotiating team. We have therefore shown them joining this committee after the tête-à-tête had finished.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	18:45:00	We do not have a record of the plenary meeting between Reynolds and Major, but we know that it was held at this time and that the draft of a joint communiqué was finalised.

Tuesday, 29 June 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Some briefing notes on the Joint Declaration were created.

Thursday, 08 July 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Annotations were made to JD6 and to the aide-mémoire.

Friday, 09 July 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] After a meeting he had sought with John Major in late June was delayed, Hume handed over JD7 to John Chilcot.

Wednesday, 14 July 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] At a meeting held at lunchtime on 14 July 1993, the British delegation handed over a document to the Irish delegation containing ten principles regarding their policy in Northern Ireland. We have modelled this being created on the day that it was referred.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The negotiating team met over lunch to discuss JD6. The British delegation made it clear they were unable to negotiate on the document, but provided a detailed commentary on their objections. The teams discussed principles to be included in the Joint Declaration. They agreed on some of these, but found self-determination to be the sticking point for the British delegation. It was tentatively agreed that the British objections would be conveyed to Sinn Féin and a further meeting would be held some time in late July/early August.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The Irish delegation received the documents circulated during the Butler/Nally lunchtime meeting. Dermot Nally reported back on the meeting and passed on the suggestion that Martin Mansergh convey the gist of the British commentary to his interlocutor.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The British delegation received the documents circulated and conclusions reached during the Butler/Nally lunchtime meeting.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions reached in the Butler/Nally meeting of 14 July 1993 were on the table from this point onwards.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions reached in the Butler/Nally meeting of 14 July 1993 were on the table from this point onwards.

Friday, 23 July 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Martin Mansergh produced some notes on the recent Butler/Nally meeting. He rejected the suggestion that he convey British objections to Sinn Féin, preferring to ask the British to negotiate a new draft which could then be presented to them.

Wednesday, 28 July 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Chilcot and Mayhew met for about an hour. One of the things under discussion was the Joint Declaration initiative.

Thursday, 29 July 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Ó hUiginn and Chilcot met for dinner. One of the topics under discussion was the Joint Declaration initiative and its progress, especially in the context of current developments. Chilcot agreed to try and arrange a further Butler/Nally meeting on 4 August 1993. The timings for a summit and a Spring/Mayhew meeting were also discussed without reaching any conclusions.

Wednesday, 04 August 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Butler-Nally Meetings	15:00:00	The Irish delegation attempted to persuade the British to begin the process of negotiating on and amending JD6. They were not successful. The Maastricht vote and its consequences, the allegations of a Conservative/UUP deal, and the possible creation of a Northern Ireland Select Committee were also discussed in some detail.
British Government	16:30:00	After the Butler/Nally meeting, the British delegation received the resolution to negotiate on JD6 as an Irish Government proposal.

Tuesday, 31 August 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas wrote some draft text on constitutional issues aimed at mining for changes to JD6. He handed it over to Seán Ó hUiginn at an informal bilateral meeting on 1 September 1993.

Wednesday, 01 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas met Seán Ó hUiginn informally to discuss JD6. He handed over a text on constitutional issues which, he implied, could also be mined for language to address self-determination in paragraph 4 of the Joint Declaration.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Editorial session] The Irish Government delegation received the conclusions of the informal bilateral meeting between Thomas and Ó hUiginn.
British Government	13:00:00	[Editorial session] The British Government delegation received the conclusions of the informal bilateral meeting between Thomas and Ó hUiginn.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	13:00:00	[Editorial session] The conclusions of the informal bilateral meeting between Thomas and Ó hUiginn were received.
Butler-Nally Meetings	13:00:00	[Editorial session] The conclusions of the informal bilateral meeting between Thomas and Ó hUiginn were received.

Monday, 06 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] David Blatherwick called on Albert Reynolds in the morning. They discussed Northern Ireland, and Reynolds emphasised the importance of securing peace in advance of a political accommodation.

Tuesday, 07 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Reynolds sent a letter to Major.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:01	[Editorial session] Reynolds sent a letter to Major.
British Government	12:00:02	[Editorial session] Reynolds sent a letter to Major, which was circulated.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:02	[Editorial session] Reynolds sent a letter to Major, which was circulated.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:02	[Editorial session] Reynolds sent a letter to Major, which was circulated.

Wednesday, 08 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne sent a letter to Robin Butler enclosing the Taoiseach's letter to the Prime Minister and requesting a draft response from John Chilcot.

Friday, 10 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The British Government made connected proposals to the Anglo-Irish Conference and the Butler/Nally group which were designed to allow them to refine the language of JD6 in the context of Strand 3 of the Talks, whilst also producing a Framework Paper which would indicate to the Unionists they had taken on board their request for a Heads of Agreement document. We do not currently have an internal record of these proposals, so we have created them on the day they were put to the Irish delegations.
Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference: Tête-à-Tête Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] A tête-à-tête meeting was held between Peter Brooke and Patrick Mayhew. JD6 was under discussion.
Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference: Plenary Sessions	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] A meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference was held where the Liaison Group was mandated to produce a paper with a constitutional component formulating a joint assessment of what might be acceptable to all participants in order to achieve the objectives of the process and secure peace.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:03	[Exact time unknown] The Butler/Nally Group met to discuss JD6. The British delegation made it clear they would not get into drafting, but suggested that the Framework document that the Intergovernmental Conference had mandated the Liaison Group to produce should be used to produce text which could then be imported into a further Irish draft of JD6. Nally and Ó hUiginn agreed to take this proposal to the Taoiseach.
Irish Government	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] The Irish delegation received the British proposals made during the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 September 1993.
British Government	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] The British proposal made to the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference was reported back as amended and agreed.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] The proposals made during the meetings of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the Butler/Nally Group on 10 September 1993 were received.
Anglo-Irish Liaison Group	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] The Anglo-Irish Liaison Group were mandated by the Intergovernmental Conference to produce a Joint Framework Document.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] The proposals made during the meetings of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the Butler/Nally Group on 10 September 1993 were received.

Sunday, 12 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time and date unknown] Mansergh had two substantial discussions – one with Chilcot and another with Mayhew – in the margins of the British-Irish Association Conference in Cambridge. The conference took place between 10 and 12 September 1993. We do not know exactly when the meetings took place, so we have modelled them at the end of this period.

Monday, 13 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] At some point following the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 September 1993, but before writing a note on 15 September 1993, Chilcot met with John Hume to discuss the Joint Declaration Initiative.

Wednesday, 15 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Martin Mansergh wrote a document reflecting on the possibility of change to the Irish Constitution.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Chilcot wrote a draft reply for Major to send to Reynolds.

Thursday, 16 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Hume met with Major, accompanied by Mayhew and Chilcot. They discussed the Hume/Adams talks and the British points of contention with JD6. Hume offered to help with further re-drafting of the document.

Wednesday, 22 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A statement which Hume planned to issue was shown to and discussed with the Irish Government on 22 September 1993. We have created it here although it probably existed prior to this.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Ó hUiginn met Hume to attempt to dissuade him from issuing a statement on the Hume/Adams talks.
Irish Government	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] During a discussion between Hume and Ó hUiginn on the evening of 22 September 1993, Hume read out a draft statement on the Hume/Adams talks. This session has been created to show the Irish government delegation receiving that proposal.

Thursday, 23 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Ó hUiginn met with Hume in the morning to continue his attempt to dissuade him from issuing a Hume/Adams statement.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] At some point during the day, Hume spoke to Reynolds to discuss his proposal to issue a statement on the Hume/Adams talks.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] After returning from Derry, Ó hUiginn spoke to Hume again to continue his attempt to dissuade him from issuing a Hume/Adams statement.

Friday, 24 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A revised Irish government draft of the Joint Declaration (JD8) was created and taken by Ó hUiginn to a meeting with Thomas.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Thomas handed over the first British draft of the Framework Document to Ó hUiginn. Major replied to Reynolds' letter of 7 September 1993.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] At some point before the publication of the Hume/Adams statement, John Hume spoke to Patrick Mayhew to forewarn him.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Ó hUiginn met with Hume to hear a report of the latter's meeting with Major on 16 September 1993. This conversation may have taken place during previous meetings: we have no record of the date of the meeting, so we have used the date of the minute to model it.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Thomas met Ó hUiginn again informally. Ó hUiginn handed over a revised Irish draft of the Joint Declaration (JD8). Thomas went through it with him, in a personal capacity, and made some suggestions on the language. He also handed over the first British draft of the Framework Document that the Liaison Group had been mandated to produce, for the Irish delegation to consider in advance of the meeting on 1 October 1993.
Irish Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] The Irish delegation received the a report of the meeting with Thomas, including a revised version of paragraph 4 worked up by him and Ó hUiginn on an informal basis and the first British draft of the Framework Document.
British Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] The British delegation received a report of the informal meeting between Thomas and Ó hUiginn, including the revised Irish version of the Joint Declaration (JD8) and a further revision of paragraph 4 worked up during the meeting on an informal basis.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Three documents were circulated from an informal bilateral meeting between Ó hUiginn and Thomas: the first British draft of the Framework Agreement; a revised Irish draft of the Joint Declaration (JD8); and a version of paragraph 4 further revised during the meeting.
Anglo-Irish Liaison Group	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] The first British draft of the Framework Document that the Liaison Group had been mandated to produce was handed over to Ó hUiginn by Thomas during an informal bilateral meeting. Since this meant both delegations had access to it, we have considered it to be on the table in the committee from this point onwards.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Three documents were circulated from an informal bilateral meeting between Ó hUiginn and Thomas: the first British draft of the Framework Agreement; a revised Irish draft of the Joint Declaration (JD8); and a version of paragraph 4 further revised during the meeting.

Saturday, 25 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A joint statement was published summarising progress in the discussions and announcing that a report would be made to the Irish Government.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
Anglo-Irish Liaison Group	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference: Plenary Sessions	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. The statement was handed over to Quentin Thomas by John Hume at some point over the weekend, during a meeting where they discussed the statement.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
Irish-Magee Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. This session has been created to show the statement being received.

Sunday, 26 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Following the publication of the Hume/Adams statement on 25 September 1993, Quentin Thomas discussed it with Seán Ó hUiginn.

Monday, 27 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas drafted a letter to Roderic Lyne which included a record of his meeting with Ó hUiginn on 24 September 1993, a copy of JD8 which was handed over during the meeting, and his comments on JD8. It also included a possible British version of paragraph 4 which might or might not be shown to the Irish delegation. This letter was amended and sent. A set of lines to take on Hume/Adams was also established.

Tuesday, 28 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] An updated version of paragraph 4 was produced and it was decided that Ó hUiginn would convey it to Thomas.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Ó hUiginn telephoned Thomas to convey an updated version of paragraph 4.
British Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Ó hUiginn telephoned Thomas to convey an updated version of paragraph 4.

Wednesday, 29 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Tony Beeton wrote to Quentin Thomas and Jonathan Stephens enclosing a speaking note for a meeting between Patrick Mayhew and John Major and notes on the text of JD8. Quentin Thomas forwarded the briefing to Robin Butler.
Irish-Magee Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Mansergh met Magee to discuss the Maze talks initiative and the mood of the Loyalist paramilitaries following the publication of the Hume-Adams statement on 25 September 1993.
Magee-Loyalist Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown] On 29 September 1993, Reverend Roy Magee reported to Martin Mansergh that he was developing principles for peace during his work with Loyalist paramilitary groups. One of these principles would later be passed back to Mansergh in a list of enumerated rights.

Thursday, 30 September 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Dermot Nally wrote a brief note on the Joint Declaration initiative.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Patrick Mayhew met in the margins of the Northern Ireland committee to discuss the Joint Declaration Initiative and ways of taking it forward.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Dick Spring and Douglas Hurd had a brief exchange on the Hume/Adams talks and the Joint Declaration initiative.

Friday, 01 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The next Irish draft of the Joint Declaration (JD9) was finalised and it was agreed that Seán Ó hUiginn would hand it over to Quentin Thomas in the margins of the Liaison Group.
Anglo-Irish Liaison Group	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The Anglo-Irish Liaison Group met to discuss the first British draft of the Framework Document. They went through the draft line by line, reaching the section on North-South relations, which they touched on. The Irish delegation offered detailed commentary on the paper, but tabled no formal amendments. They undertook to provide either specific amendments, an alternative paper, or some combination of the two.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Ó hUiginn and Thomas met in the margins of the Liaison Group, and Ó hUiginn handed over the approved next draft of the Joint Declaration (JD9).
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:03	[Editorial session] Major's reply to Reynolds was circulated.
Irish Government	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the Liaison Group meeting were received, along with the conclusions of an informal bilateral meeting between Quentin Thomas and Seán Ó hUiginn where they discussed JD9.
British Government	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the Liaison Group meeting were received, along with the next Irish draft of the Joint Declaration (JD9) and the conclusions of the bilateral meeting between Quentin Thomas and Seán Ó hUiginn.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:04	[Editorial session] JD9 as considered by Thomas and Ó hUiginn in their informal bilateral meeting became the most up-to-date version of the Joint Declaration. We have created this session to show it being on the table for the next meeting.

Sunday, 03 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas wrote to Tony Beeton regarding the need for two papers: one giving the background to the Joint Declaration initiative and one giving an overall assessment of it. He enclosed a first outline of the latter.

Monday, 04 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Editorial session] After Quentin Thomas and Seán Ó hUiginn's informal bilateral meeting on 1 October 1993, changes were made to JD9 to turn it into the version which was negotiated on with the British delegation at a Butler-Nally meeting on 6 October 1993 (JD10). A handwritten note on a copy in Dermot Nally's papers suggests that these changes may have been made by Mansergh on 4 October 1993.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Watkins wrote a minute to Quinn following the Liaison Group meeting on 1 October 1993 providing for further work to be done in advance of the next meeting. Tony Beeton drafted a letter to Roderic Lyne enclosing the briefing material for John Major's upcoming meeting with Jim Molyneaux. Patrick Mayhew received several documents for his upcoming interview with the Sunday Telegraph.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] At some point between 1 October 1993 and 4 October 1993, Seán Ó hUiginn phoned Quentin Thomas to warn him that the Taoiseach was firmly against the inclusion of any explicit re-statement of the constitutional guarantee, and ask if an oblique reference to it in paragraph 3 would be acceptable.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew telephoned Jim Molyneaux to discuss recent developments following Ian Paisley's meeting with Michael Ancram.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew and Jim Molyneaux met again in person, at Molyneaux's request, to discuss his concerns about Unionist grassroots opinion following his meeting with his party officers.

Tuesday, 05 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] An early draft of the Irish Press line on meeting John Hume was written.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Jonathan Stephens wrote to Roderic Lyne enclosing a speaking note for John Major's use during a meeting scheduled with Jim Molyneaux during the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool.

Wednesday, 06 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	11:14:59	[Exact time unknown] The latest Irish government redraft of the Joint Declaration (JD10) was handed over during a Butler/Nally meeting on 6 October 1993. The early draft of the Irish Press line on meeting John Hume was also taken to the meeting, although it is unclear whether or not the exact text was shared with the British delegation.
British Government	11:14:59	[Exact time unknown] During the Butler/Nally meeting on 6 October 1993, Robin Butler put proposals to the Irish delegation which originated in a ministerial meeting on 30 September 1993 and were further refined by Quentin Thomas in his briefing material for the meeting, following his own informal bilateral discussion with Seán Ó hUiginn.
Butler-Nally Meetings	11:15:00	The Butler-Nally Group met to discuss the latest version of the Joint Declaration (JD10), and amended it, producing a later draft with amendments ad referendum to the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach (JD11). Butler asked for four assurances from the Irish delegation, which they agreed to convey to the Taoiseach.

Thursday, 07 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Irish government press line after meeting John Hume was finalised. The version of the Joint Declaration agreed ad referendum during the Butler/Nally meeting on 6 October 1993 (JD11) was reported back. Some amendments were adopted and others were rejected to create a version which was then passed back to the British government on 8 October 1993 (JD12).
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas reported back the version of the text which was agreed ad referendum, with some pending amendments, during the Butler-Nally meeting on 6 October 1993 (JD11). He also made some suggestions of his own about what Irish amendments to the text might look like, which caused the versions of JD11 in both Government committees to diverge slightly.

Friday, 08 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Editorial session] The latest Irish draft of the Joint Delegation (JD12) was reported to Quentin Thomas during a phone call with Seán Ó hUiginn. In taking it down, Quentin Thomas accidentally changed the order of the self-determination sentence.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] John Major was scheduled to meet with Jim Molyneaux during the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, to reassure him about the British Government's position in the wake of Hume/Adams démarche and the media attention it was receiving.
British Government	12:00:01	[Editorial session] Quentin Thomas reported back the latest Irish draft of the Joint Declaration (JD12), which he had had over the phone from Ó hUiginn. In taking it down, he had accidentally reordered the sentence on self-determination, so the British JD12 at this point diverged slightly from the Irish draft. David Cooke also sent Jonathan Stephens a set of documents for the Prime Minister's use in a meeting.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:01	[Editorial session] JD12 became the most up-to-date version of the Joint Declaration.

Monday, 11 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Tony Beeton submitted a draft of a background brief on the Joint Declaration initiative. He also submitted a copy of a draft on the historical background of the Joint Declaration, although David Cooke had decided not to include this alongside a proposed minute and a list of key considerations about the joint declaration in a briefing package for a meeting on 14th October 1993.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume met the Taoiseach to discuss the Hume/Adams statement and the Joint Declaration initiative.

Tuesday, 12 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Chilcot and Patrick Mayhew discussed the Joint Declaration and amended David Cooke's proposed wording for an amendment to paragraph 4. The minute to John Major recommending next steps was sent, with a final version of the British proposed amendment to paragraph 4 of JD12.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Chilcot met John Hume to discuss the Hume/Adams statement and the Joint Declaration initiative.

Wednesday, 13 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	11:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Cooke wrote a message addressing the second point of Watkins' minute of 1 October 1993. Tony Beeton wrote to Jonathan Stephens enclosing several documents regarding a meeting with the Prime Minister. David Fell met the journalist Eamonn Mallie for lunch.

Thursday, 14 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Anglo-Irish Liaison Group	11:00:00	The Anglo-Irish Liaison Group continued to discuss the first British draft of the Framework Document. The Irish delegation offered some specific amendments to the first section of the paper, and offered comments and suggestions on the remainder of it. They undertook to produce their own draft by the next meeting of the Group.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Patrick Mayhew met to discuss the Joint Declaration initiative.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Seán Ó hUiginn and Quentin Thomas had a brief discussion of JD12 in the margins of a Liaison Group meeting. Ó hUiginn was disappointed that a British decision was not more quickly forthcoming. Thomas attempted to push the idea that a more explicit reference to the constitutional guarantee was needed.
British Government	16:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A ministerial briefing meeting on the Joint Declaration was held in the late afternoon.

Friday, 15 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown]

Monday, 18 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A ministerial meeting was held in the morning to discuss the Joint Declaration initiative. It was agreed that a reference to the constitutional guarantee was necessary, and that the text should be put to Molyneaux that afternoon.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Various briefing documents were produced in advance of John Major's meeting with Jim Molyneaux.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	14:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major met with Jim Molyneaux in the afternoon to brief him, on a privy council basis, on the Joint Declaration. He was shown an intelligence assessment and the text of JD12A. His assessment of the initiative was overwhelmingly negative.

Tuesday, 19 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Briefing material was created for a meeting between Robin Butler and Albert Reynolds. The British Government were refusing to proceed on the basis of JD12.

Wednesday, 20 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas prepared a paper assessing the possible Unionist reaction to the Joint Declaration Initiative, which would be shown to Albert Reynolds alongside the sanitised assessment of the PIRA attitude to it. John Major wrote a manuscript letter to Albert Reynolds indicating his decision not to proceed with JD12.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Robin Butler met Albert Reynolds and Dick Spring to hand over a letter from John Major outlining his decision not to proceed with JD12. The tone of the meeting was apparently cordial, but the Taoiseach was deeply disappointed by this decision.
Irish Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] The Irish government received the conclusions of the meeting between Robin Butler and Albert Reynolds.

Thursday, 21 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Anglo-Irish Liaison Group	10:20:00	The Anglo-Irish Liaison Group met to continue their discussion of the Framework Document. The Irish delegation had produced a draft, but were unable to table it in the absence of ministerial approval. Having previously exhausted discussion on the first British draft, the meeting worked through a makeweight agenda and adjourned for lunch.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas, David Cooke and Seán Ó hUiginn met in the margins of the Liaison Group to discuss John Major's decision not to proceed with the Joint Declaration. Ó hUiginn said that this decision had been very badly received.
Irish-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The Taoiseach resolved to show JD12 to Archbishop Eames during a meeting with Robin Butler on 20 October 1993. On 22 October 1993, Eames reported to John Chilcot that he had been shown JD12 and met the Taoiseach twice. We can therefore infer that it is likely he met with Reynolds on 21 October 1993.

Friday, 22 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas prepared a handling plan for the upcoming IGC in light of the fallout caused by the British Government rejection of the Joint Declaration.
British-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Chilcot met Archbishop Robin Eames to see how far the Irish had got with briefing him on the Joint Declaration Initiative. He had met the Taoiseach twice and been shown JD12. He engaged to do his best to contain Protestant reaction and sought a meeting with Patrick Mayhew or John Major.

Wednesday, 27 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Various material was produced in advance of the meeting between Albert Reynolds and John Major on 29 October 1993.
Irish Government	20:00:00	[Exact time unknown] During the Dáil Éireann debate on Northern Ireland, Dick Spring gave a speech enumerating six principles for peace which related to the discussions happening on the Joint Declaration.

Thursday, 28 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Various material was produced in advance of the meeting between Albert Reynolds and John Major on 29 October 1993.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume rang John Chilcot to urge continued work on the Joint Declaration. Hume suggested attempts were being made on his life. He also reported concerns regarding the Irish Government's indirect dialogue with the Provisionals, via Father Alec Reid. They also discussed Dick Spring's six principles speech to the Dáil.

Friday, 29 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Versions of the statement issuing from the 29 October 1993 meeting between Albert Reynolds and John Major in Brussels continued to be exchanged.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Reynolds and Major met in Brussels and issued a Joint Statement.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown: editorial session] John Major and Albert Reynolds issued a Joint Statement.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown: editorial session] John Major and Albert Reynolds issued a Joint Statement.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown: editorial session] John Major and Albert Reynolds issued a Joint Statement.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown: editorial session] John Major and Albert Reynolds issued a Joint Statement.

Saturday, 30 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Archbishop Eames	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] In response to his meetings with the Taoiseach, Archbishop Eames wrote some text for inclusion in the Joint Declaration which he thought would help address Unionist concerns.

Sunday, 31 October 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Draft paragraphs on Northern Ireland were submitted for inclusion in John Major's planned speech to the House on 1 November 1993, which would focus on the European Summit in Brussels on 29 October 1993 and on his meeting with Albert Reynolds in the margins of it.

Monday, 01 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A revised draft for Prime Minister's statement to the House on the European Council and on Northern Ireland was submitted, and the statement was made. Quentin Thomas submitted a briefing pack for a meeting between John Hume and either John Major or Patrick Mayhew.
Magee-Loyalist Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The 'Magee list' of rights which was eventually included in the Joint Declaration has been traced back by Christopher McCrudden to a November 1993 issue of Combat magazine. We have created this session to model this process.

Tuesday, 02 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The earliest draft of the Joint Declaration with Eames' additions that we have found, in Dermot Nally's papers, is dated 2 November 1993. We have shown the amendments being made in this committee for now, but hope to find a more detailed record of exactly when and how Eames made his suggestions.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The Joint Declaration was returned, incorporating Eames' suggestions.

Wednesday, 03 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Briefing material was prepared for a meeting between John Major and John Hume on 4 November 1993.
Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference: Plenary Sessions	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A 'semi-restricted' session was held as part of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting on 3 November 1993. The Joint Declaration was under discussion.

Thursday, 04 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Dick Spring spoke to Patrick Mayhew. The Tanaiste gave a summary of the Taoiseach's meeting with John Hume and spoke about continued work on the Joint Declaration following meetings with Unionist clergymen.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major, Patrick Mayhew and John Chilcot were scheduled to meet John Hume on this day to explain the British decision not to proceed with the Joint Declaration.

Friday, 05 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major met John Hume to discuss the Joint Declaration Initiative.

Monday, 08 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The possibility of constructing an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration was discussed.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas briefed Robin Butler and Jonathan Stephens on the upcoming Butler/Nally meeting scheduled for 10 November 1993. David Cooke submitted supplementary briefing material for John Major for his meetings with Molyneaux and Paisley on 9 November 1993.

Tuesday, 09 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Irish government delegation made further amendments to those proposed by Archbishop Eames on 2 November 1993 and then adopted them. They shared the updated draft (JD13) with the British delegation. Some briefing points were also created on the new draft in advance of the meeting.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas submitted the first draft of an alternative British version of the Joint Declaration.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Seán Ó hUiginn sent a copy of JD13 to Quentin Thomas by special messenger.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown: editorial session] From this point onwards, the most up-to-date version of the Joint Declaration on the table was JD13.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:04	[Exact time unknown] Jim Molyneaux met with John Major to discuss the recent joint statement, Hume/Adams, and a potential cessation of violence.

Wednesday, 10 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas reported JD13, and prepared a paper analysing its contents.
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The Butler-Nally group met to discuss the Joint Declaration initiative. The new copy of the Joint Declaration, JD13, with Archbishop Eames' additions, was on the table. The British delegation made it clear that they were still under instructions not to proceed with the Joint Declaration initiative. The Irish delegation threatened recriminations. The atmosphere was severely strained.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Martin Mansergh had lunch with David Blatherwick. They discussed the questions of a 'peace framework', including positions on the Joint Declaration. Mansergh reported that the PIRA had rejected JD12.

Thursday, 11 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Reynolds sent a letter to Major protesting British refusal to engage with the Joint Declaration Initiative.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume phoned John Chilcot to inquire about progress on the Joint Declaration initiative.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Reynolds sent a letter to Major protesting British refusal to engage with the Joint Declaration Initiative.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas had a phone call with Seán Ó hUiginn. They discussed progress, or lack thereof, on both the Talks and the Joint Declaration.
British Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas reported back on the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 November 1993 and outlined suggested next steps. He also reported his phone call with Ó hUiginn. Drafts of a letter to Reynolds from Major were written, but the letter was not sent because Major received a letter from Reynolds first, protesting British refusal to engage with the Joint Declaration Initiative. A draft passage on Northern Ireland for the Lord Mayor's Banquet Speech was also submitted.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	18:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Dick Spring phoned Patrick Mayhew to express his disappointment at the line taken during the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 November 1993. Patrick Mayhew took the position that the Joint Declaration Initiative had not been rejected outright and that the British Government was prepared to take risks to achieve an end to violence.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	19:00:00	[Exact time unknown] At the annual DFA dinner for the diplomatic corps, Fergus Finlay told John Dew that the Taoiseach was seriously frustrated with the British attitude to the Joint Declaration initiative.

Friday, 12 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Jonathan Stephens sent a letter to Roderic Lyne including an assessment of the present position and next steps on the Joint Declaration Initiative. Attached at Annex B was an updated version of the Alternative British Draft of the Joint Declaration (12 November Draft).
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne and David Blatherwick met with Albert Reynolds, and then with Martin Mansergh and Seán Ó hUiginn over dinner, to discuss the British and Irish government's respective positions on the Joint Declaration initiative. The Irish emphasised that they would go ahead with it with or without the British.

Saturday, 13 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew handed over a copy of JD13 to Archbishop Eames for him to propose further amendments to to the Taoiseach.
British-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew met with Archbishop Robin Eames to discuss the Joint Declaration. Eames was much less enthusiastic about JD13 than he had been reported to be by the Taoiseach. He said that he had not promised to back it, and agreed to make this clear to Reynolds, and to press for further amendments. These would now include a recognition of the constitutional guarantee, which he had not previously thought necessary.
Archbishop Eames	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Robin Eames took a copy of JD13 away with him from a bilateral meeting with Patrick Mayhew. He also took away the conclusions of that meeting, which included instructions from the British Government to press for further amendments to JD13 regarding the constitutional guarantee and amendment of Articles 2 & 3.

Sunday, 14 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Reynolds, Spring, Ó hUiginn, and an SDLP delegation led by Hume met on 14 November 1993. Items discussed included the UK and Unionist position on the draft declaration with the Tánaiste stating that “Adams was anathema, and that the UK feared a Unionist backlash” and Reynolds stating that “the UK would probably never slam the door. Their main interest was to push the talks process”.

Monday, 15 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A paper was submitted outlining objections to JD13 from a Unionist perspective, and specifically to Archbishop Eames' additions. Roderic Lyne sent a letter to Martin Mansergh enclosing a statement on Northern Ireland that the Prime Minister intended to deliver as part of his speech to the Lord Mayor's banquet.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne sent a letter to Martin Mansergh enclosing a statement on Northern Ireland that the Prime Minister intended to deliver as part of his speech to the Lord Mayor's banquet.
Irish Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne sent a letter to Martin Mansergh enclosing a statement on Northern Ireland that the Prime Minister intended to deliver as part of his speech to the Lord Mayor's banquet. The Taoiseach responded to Major's reply to his letter criticising British refusal to engage with JD13.

Tuesday, 16 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] Robin Eames reported to John Major on 18 November 1993 that Albert Reynolds had given him a letter to hand over to Jim Molyneaux. Since we know that Eames and Reynolds met on 16 November 1993, we have inferred that the letter was written and handed over to Eames then.
Archbishop Eames	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] During a meeting on the evening of this day, Archbishop Eames proposed three further amendments to the Joint Declaration to Albert Reynolds.
British-Hume Bilaterals	15:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume phoned John Chilcot to explain that he was refusing interviews, but had put a statement on tape.
Irish-Eames Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Eames spoke to Albert Reynolds and persuaded him to make further changes to the text of the Joint Declaration, producing what the British would label JD14.
Irish Government	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The version of the Joint Declaration with the amendments agreed between Robin Eames and Albert Reynolds was reported back to the Irish government delegation.
Archbishop Eames	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Eames took a copy of the Joint Declaration as agreed between him and the Taoiseach back with him.

Wednesday, 17 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Eames Bilaterals	14:00:00	Archbishop Robin Eames rang Jonathan Stephens to report the amendments he had proposed to the Taoiseach on 16 November 1993.
British Government	14:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Jonathan Stephens reported back the amendments to JD13 that Eames had indicated over the phone. These amendments were reportedly slightly differently from how they had been made by Eames and the Irish Government to produce what was handed over on 18 November 1993 as JD14. Briefing material was also produced for the upcoming meeting between John Major and Jim Molyneaux.
British Government	16:15:00	An informal Ministerial meeting on Northern Ireland was held between John Major, Patrick Mayhew, Douglas Hurd, John Chilcot and Robin Butler. It was agreed to seriously consider putting forward an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration. The current draft was discussed, amendments were made, and it was decided that the NIO would write up a further draft based on those amendments.

Thursday, 18 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] David Cooke submitted an updated version of the alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration, based on the amendments made during the informal Northern Ireland Ministerial meeting on 17 November 1993. This updated version was shown to Archbishop Robin Eames during John Major's bilateral meeting with him later in the day.]
Archbishop Eames	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Eames showed a copy of JD14 to Jim Molyneaux on 18 November 1993, before his bilateral meeting with John Major.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne spoke to Martin Mansergh over the phone about the latest version of the Joint Declaration (JD14) and the role of Archbishop Eames.
Eames-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Robin Eames and Jim Molyneaux had a bilateral meeting to discuss the latest version of the Joint Declaration (JD14). Molyneaux was unhappy with some of the language and suggested amendments.
British-Eames Bilaterals	16:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Robin Eames handed over the latest version of the Joint Declaration (JD14) to John Major, and they discussed the status of the initiative. Eames had discussed the draft with Jim Molyneaux earlier in the day and gave a report of that meeting.
British Government	16:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Following a bilateral meeting with Archbishop Robin Eames, JD14 and an amendment proposed to it by Jim Molyneaux were reported back by the British government delegation.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	16:00:01	[Editorial session] From this point onwards, both delegations had sight of JD14.

Friday, 19 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] On the morning of 19 November 1993, the Irish Press published the Irish draft of the framework document that had been promised to the British government but not provided.
British Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] On the morning of 19 November 1993, the Irish Press published the Irish draft of the framework document that had been promised to the British government but not provided.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne spoke to Martin Mansergh to advise caution in the Taoiseach's appearance on the Frost programme on Sunday morning. The Irish Press leak of the Irish draft Framework document was also discussed, and Mansergh reported that JD14 had been shown to John Hume, which worried Lyne.
Eames-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Robin Eames spoke to Jim Molyneaux about the leak of the Irish draft framework paper. Molyneaux was very agitated and withdrew from any involvement in the text of the Joint Declaration.

Saturday, 20 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Hume-Adams	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A Hume/Adams Statement was issued.
British-Eames Bilaterals	16:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew and Archbishop Robin Eames spoke over the phone to discuss the leak of the Irish draft framework paper and Jim Molyneaux's position, which he had spoken to Eames about on the previous day.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Albert Reynolds had a phone conversation on the evening of 20 November 1993. They discussed the Joint Declaration initiative, the Hume/Adams Statement, and the Irish draft framework document leak.

Sunday, 21 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew spoke to Jim Molyneaux over the phone to discuss the leak of the Irish draft framework paper.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	16:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Jim Molyneaux had a phone conversation on the evening of 20 November 1993. They discussed the Hume/Adams Statement and the Irish draft framework document leak.

Tuesday, 23 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A ministerial meeting was held on Northern Ireland. It was ultimately decided to sound out Molyneaux's views on the alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration, and then to put it to the Irish Government in place of their own current draft (JD14).
Irish-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Eames met an Irish government delegation. Eames reported on his meeting with Major and stated that he himself "had fully backed Reynolds’ initiative".
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Jonathan Stephens wrote to Roderic Lyne enclosing the work commissioned at the Ministerial meeting earlier in the day. This included a further draft of the alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration; a commentary on that draft; a speaking note for the Prime Minister to use in his meeting with Mr Molyneaux; a draft letter for the Prime Minister to send to the Taoiseach; a speaking note for Sir Robin Butler to use during handover of the letter and the alternative draft; and the article in the "Irish Press" of 19 November 1993.

Wednesday, 24 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The alternative British draft was shared with Jim Molyneaux during a bilateral meeting with Patrick Mayhew.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major met with Jim Molyneaux to discuss an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration.

Thursday, 25 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew met with Jim Molyneaux in order to show him the text of the alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration. Molyneaux indicated that he would acquiesce in it subject to several small amendments.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The British Government received Molyneaux's comments on the alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration and the draft was updated to reflect them. The letter from John Major to Albert Reynolds and the speaking note for Roderic Lyne were also updated.

Friday, 26 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Butler and David Blatherwick met Albert Reynolds to hand over an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration and a letter from John Major explaining that he thought JD14 would not be saleable to the Unionists, and laying out the rationale behind the alternative draft. Reynolds was very angry.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration was reported back following an acrimonious meeting.

Saturday, 27 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Martin Mansergh rang David Blatherwick to pass on the Taoiseach's confirmation of his dissatisfaction and anger at the submission of an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Seán Ó hUiginn met with John Hume. Hume stated his approval of the Irish government's handling of the peace process, gave his reaction to the UK draft declaration of 25 November 1993 and discussed writing a letter to Major.

Monday, 29 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	10:20:00	Jim Molyneaux met with Michael Ancram and John Major for nearly an hour at the House of Commons. They discussed the possibility of amending JD14 to meet Molyneaux's requirements, which he was fairly relaxed about, and agreed to hold a meeting on 30 November 1993 to discuss the text in detail.
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Albert Reynolds sent a letter to John Major expressing his disappointment and anger at the submission of an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration.
SDLP	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Hume wrote a letter to John Major expressing concern at the possible loss of an opportunity for peace.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Albert Reynolds sent a letter to John Major expressing his disappointment and anger at the submission of an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration.
British Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Albert Reynolds sent a letter to John Major expressing his disappointment and anger at the submission of an alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration. Quentin Thomas submitted a possible draft of a unilateral British government declaration.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	13:00:00	Martin Mansergh phoned Roderic Lyne to complain about possible British briefing of the Telegraph and the leaks of contacts between HMG and PIRA.
British Government	18:00:00	An internal British government meeting was held to plan next steps with the Irish government on the JDI.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	19:20:00	John Major and Albert Reynolds had a phone call to discuss the Joint Declaration, the divergent views of the two governments and the upcoming Anglo-Irish Summit.
British-Hume Bilaterals	20:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Late in the evening, John Chilcot spoke to John Hume about the JDI and the prospects for peace. Hume was concerned and disappointed by the British government's approach.

Tuesday, 30 November 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] An Irish cabinet meeting was held in the morning. One of the topics under discussion was whether to proceed with the Anglo-Irish Summit on 3 December 1993.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] During a bilateral meeting with Jim Molyneaux later in the day, Michael Ancram tabled a version of JD14 which incorporated Molyneaux's previous amendment and also the addition of language about the constitutional guarantee which the British government had previously included in JD12A. During a bilateral meeting with Robin Eames, Chris Maccabe showed him the 25 November alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne telephoned the Taoiseach's private secretary to ask whether the summit could be announced and was told it could not be.
British-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	Chris Maccabe met with Archbishop Robin Eames to show him a copy of the alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration. Eames was unimpressed: he said it posed no issues for Unionists but did not offer much for the Irish government.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Seán Ó hUiginn was sent to tell David Blatherwick that the summit would only be on if the Irish Joint Declaration were to be the product of the meeting.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] James Molyneaux met with Michael Ancram and Roderic Lyne for nearly two hours in the House of Commons to discuss the alternative British draft of the joint statement and JD14.
British Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] A copy of JD14 as amended to be shown to Molyneaux was reported back to the British government. With some further amendments, this became JD14A.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne spoke again to the Taoiseach's private secretary to advise him to reconsider the position advanced by Seán Ó hUiginn to David Blatherwick.
British-Eames Bilaterals	15:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Robin Eames spoke to Roderic Lyne over the phone in advance of a meeting between Eames and Albert Reynolds on 1 December 1993. Eames wanted to check whether any changes had been made to the British draft and Lyne asked him to be as frank as possible regarding Unionist difficulties with Hume/Adams.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] In the early evening, Martin Mansergh phoned Roderic Lyne to discuss the different drafts of the Joint Declaration. They agreed to put two options to their principals – either a working meeting on Friday, or postponement of the Summit.
Irish Government	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Mansergh reported to Reynolds that the two options he had discussed with Rod Lyne were a working meeting or postponement. Reynolds preferred the latter option.
British Government	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Lyne reported to Major that the two options he had discussed with Martin Mansergh were a working meeting or postponement. Major preferred the former option.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	18:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Further consultation took place, and it was agreed to hold a working meeting on Friday 3 December 1993, subject to approval by the Tanaiste. It was envisaged to hold a further meeting to reach final agreement before Christmas.

Wednesday, 01 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A meeting was held between Archbishop Robin Eames and Albert Reynolds on 1 December 1993.
British-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Archbishop Eames telephoned Roderic Lyne to give a report of his meeting with Albert Reynolds.
British Government	12:00:02	[Exact time unknown] Further amendments were made to JD14 as shown to and amended by Jim Molyneaux during a bilateral meeting on 30 November 1993 to produce JD14A.

Thursday, 02 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Dick Spring met Douglas Hurd to discuss the Joint Declaration.
British-Hume Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A letter from John Hume expressing concern at the possible loss of an opportunity for peace was handed over to John Major in the House of Commons.
Sinn Féin	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A statement was released clarifying British government contacts with the PIRA.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] A letter from John Hume expressing concern at the possible loss of an opportunity for peace was handed over to John Major in the House of Commons. Extensive briefing material was submitted for the Anglo-Irish summit on 3 December 1993.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Joseph Small called on John Chilcot to try and convince him of the necessity of movement on the Joint Declaration Initiative. He also warned him that the revelation of contacts between the British government and the PIRA had caused a lot of anger in Dublin.
British-Hume Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] On the evening of 2 December 1993, John Hume met with Patrick Mayhew to discuss the Joint Declaration Initiative.

Friday, 03 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	11:20:00	The tête-à-tête meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds began with an unminuted conversation between the two of them. Martin Mansergh and Roderic Lyne joined the meeting at 11.50. The two leaders agreed on their objectives and on the need to produce an acceptable text. They discussed the position of the PIRA, the Loyalist paramilitaries, and the Unionist politicians. They agreed to look at the Joint Declaration together after lunch with their delegations.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	11:30:00	Dick Spring, Patrick Mayhew, Douglas Hurd and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn met in parallel with the tête-à-tête meeting between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach, along with a large array of officials on each side. The main topic under discussion was British government contacts with the PIRA and Irish recriminations. Both delegations then went on to offer assessments of PIRA and Loyalist paramilitary positions.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	14:55:00	Following lunch, a plenary session was held to go through JD14 paragraph by paragraph. The Irish delegation proposed two amendments: the British delegation proposed 14. Many of these amendments included language mined from the alternative British draft, or suggested by Jim Molyneaux. The Taoiseach considered that the amendments proposed would completely upend the balance of the text, and that it would have no chance of ending violence under those circumstances. The meeting broke for half an hour so that both delegations could confer internally.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	17:10:00	The Taoiseach indicated that the Irish delegation had considered the British amendments and still felt they upended the balance of the text. Four of them in particular were dealbreakers. After some intense back and forth on the necessity of the constitutional guarantee, it was agreed that Robin Butler and Dermot Nally would go through the text in detail before Brussels. Both sides threatened to issue a unilateral declaration if agreement were not reached.
Irish Government	18:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown; editorial session] From this point onwards, the amendments to JD14 were under consideration.
British Government	18:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown; editorial session] From this point onwards, the amendments to JD14 were under consideration.
Butler-Nally Meetings	18:00:01	[Exact date and time unknown; editorial session] From this point onwards, the amendments to JD14 were under consideration.

Sunday, 05 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the Anglo-Irish Summit were formally reported back to the British government delegation.

Monday, 06 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Albert Reynolds wrote a letter to John Major.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Quentin Thomas submitted briefing material in advance of a Butler/Nally meeting on 7 December 1993.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] Mansergh, Ó hUiginn and Nally discussed the joint declaration and the proposed amendments.

Tuesday, 07 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Butler-Nally Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] A Butler/Nally meeting was held to discuss the text as it emerged from the Anglo-Irish summit on 3 December 1993.
British-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne spoke to Robin Eames to update and reassure him on the Joint Declaration initiative.
Irish Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions reached in the Butler/Nally meeting of 7 December 1993 were on the table from this point onwards.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions reached in the Butler/Nally meeting of 7 December 1993 were on the table from this point onwards.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions reached in the Butler/Nally meeting of 7 December 1993 were on the table from this point onwards.

Wednesday, 08 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Magee-Loyalist Bilaterals	08:30:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The text of the 'Magee list' of rights which was eventually included in the Joint Declaration was based on a document drawn up by Reverend Roy Magee in consultation with Loyalist paramilitaries. We have no record of the creation of this document so we have modelled it on the day it was shown to Martin Mansergh.
British Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Patrick Mayhew sent briefing material, including further recommended amendments to the Joint Declaration, in advance of a Ministerial meeting scheduled for the following day.
Irish-Magee Bilaterals	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] On the morning of 8 December 1993, an Irish government delegation met with Reverend Magee to hear his views on the Joint Declaration. He passed on a list of rights from the Loyalist community.
Irish Government	09:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The Irish government received a list of rights and principles that Reverend Roy Magee had passed to Martin Mansergh, reflecting the concerns of Loyalist paramilitaries.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Martin Mansergh telephoned Roderic Lyne to discuss the Joint Declaration. Both sides reported on the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach's attitudes to amendments on the table, and further amendments were signalled.
British Government	12:00:01	[Exact time unknown] An Irish suggestion to make the Joint Declaration on Tuesday 14 December 1993 was reported back to the British government.
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	15:00:00	[Exact time unknown] On the afternoon of 8 December 1993, Albert Reynolds met with John Hume and Séamus Mallon to urge them to support the Joint Declaration.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	17:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Michael Ancram met Jim Molyneaux, who handed over a draft of his document 'A blueprint for stability'.

Thursday, 09 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	08:30:00	[Exact time unknown] David Cooke produced a first draft of the briefing material for John Major in Brussels on 10 and 11 December 1993. This was based – optimistically, as he noted – on the idea that they would be agreed on the text of a declaration by that point, which did not turn out to be the case.
Irish Government	09:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] During a bilateral discussion with Robin Butler on 9 December 1993, Martin Mansergh reported further Irish government amendments to the Joint Declaration. We do not know exactly when these amendments were made, so we have created them on the day they were reported to Butler.
British Government	09:00:00	The Prime Minister held a ministerial meeting to discuss the Joint Declaration initiative. Various items of work were commissioned.
British-Eames Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major wrote to Archbishop Robin Eames.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	13:15:00	John Major, Michael Ancram and Jim Molyneaux met to discuss the Joint Declaration.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	14:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Following the meeting with John Major and Michael Ancram, Jim Molyneaux had a further 'non-discussion' with Michael Ancram where he was shown the text of JD15 and proposed further amendments to it.
British Government	15:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Michael Ancram reported back two amendments from his non-meeting with Jim Molyneaux. Nicholas Lyell, the attorney general, wrote to John Major with his comments on the legal ramifications of certain phrases in JD15.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Butler met with Martin Mansergh to discuss the working text of the Joint Declaration and exchange amendments.
Irish Government	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the meeting between Martin Mansergh and Robin Butler were reported back to the Irish government delegation.
British Government	18:00:01	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the meeting between Martin Mansergh and Robin Butler were reported back to the British government delegation. Briefing material was then produced in advance of the meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds in the margins of the EC Summit on 10/11 December 1993.

Friday, 10 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish-Hume Bilaterals	10:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] During a meeting between Irish officials and Roderic Lyne, the Irish delegation proposed amendments that they said had been initially suggested by John Hume. Since one of the amendments was to a British government amendment reported to the Irish government on the evening of 9 December 1993, the editors have modelled a bilateral meeting with John Hume on the morning of 10 December 1993.
Irish Government	11:00:00	[Exact date and time unknown] The Irish government delegation received the amendments proposed by John Hume to the Joint Declaration and made some more of their own in advance of a bilateral meeting with Roderic Lyne.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	11:30:00	Roderic Lyne met with Martin Mansergh, Noel Dorr and Seán Ó hUiginn to discuss the Joint Declaration and various proposals of amendment.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	15:00:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Albert Reynolds met to discuss the Joint Declaration. Roderic Lyne and Martin Mansergh were also present. Both sides were concerned about the issue of balance, and Albert Reynolds criticised the line Roderic Lyne had taken with officials in the morning.
Irish Government	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the meeting between British and Irish officials were reported back to the Irish government delegation.
British Government	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The version of the Joint Declaration negotiated between Irish and British officials earlier in the day was reported back by Roderic Lyne, along with his record of the meeting.

Saturday, 11 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne met with Martin Mansergh, Seán Ó hUiginn, and Noel Dorr to continue the conversation of the previous day on the Joint Declaration. The atmosphere was increasingly hostile and unproductive.

Sunday, 12 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] An series of annotations on a copy of the Joint Declaration and of its final paragraph from Dermot Nally's papers suggests that he spoke with Martin Mansergh about the text as it returned from Brussels on 12 December 1993.
British Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne reported the discussion on 11 December 1993 back to the British delegation. There was also an exchange of memos between various members of the NIO and the Cabinet about the relative importance of the 'as of right' clause.

Monday, 13 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Irish Government	09:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Dermot Nally spoke to Albert Reynolds before his phone call with Robin Butler.
Butler-Nally Meetings	09:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Butler and Dermot Nally spoke over the phone to resolve outstanding issues in the Joint Declaration text. They were able to settle a number of the issues still pending in Brussels, including the opening of paragraph 4 and some wording in the penultimate parargaph. Nally proposed the specific text of the 'Magee list' to the British government for the first time, and Butler indicated their provisional acceptance of it. Two key issues were whether to delete or substitute the word 'assist' in paragraph 4, and the question of the inclusion or deletion of the Irish Convention, to be renamed in either case the 'Forum for Peace and Reconciliation'.
Irish Government	10:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the first Butler/Nally conversation of the day were reported back to the Irish government delegation. The Taoiseach agreed that the Joint Declaration would be considered a political document rather than a legal one.
British Government	10:00:00	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the first Butler/Nally conversation of the day were reported back to the British government delegation.
British Government	10:30:00	[Exact time unknown] A ministerial meeting was held to discuss the Joint Declaration.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:30:00	[Exact time unknown] John Major and Albert Reynolds spoke over the phone to discuss the Joint Declaration.
Butler-Nally Meetings	15:45:00	Robin Butler and Dermot Nally met to discuss the text of the Joint Declaration. They narrowed the issues down to '2 1/2 substantive points'.
British Government	16:30:00	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the Butler/Nally meeting at 15.45 were reported back to the British Government.
Irish Government	17:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Following the Butler/Nally conversation at 15.45, an alternative form of words for paragraphs 10-12 was reported back to the Irish government. Further amendments were proposed and put to the British government delegation during their next conversation at 18.00.
Butler-Nally Meetings	18:00:00	Dermot Nally and Robin Butler spoke again at 18.00. Three amendments were under discussion during the meeting: a proposal to replace 'assist and encourage' with 'faciltate' and two alternative forms of language for the end of the 'as of right' sentence in paragraph 4.
Irish Government	18:30:00	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the 18.00 conversation between Dermot Nally and Robin Butler were reported back to the Irish government.
British Government	18:30:00	[Exact time unknown] The conclusions of the 18.00 conversation between Dermot Nally and Robin Butler were reported back to the British government.
British-Eames Bilaterals	19:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne spoke to Robin Eames to discuss progress on the Joint Declaration and outstanding amendments.
Irish-Eames Bilaterals	19:30:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Eames spoke to Martin Mansergh to discuss the Joint Declaration and particularly the paragraphs on the Forum.
British-Eames Bilaterals	20:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Robin Eames phoned Roderic Lyne back to report on a conversation he had had in the interim with Martin Mansergh.
British-Molyneaux Bilaterals	21:30:00

Tuesday, 14 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
British Government	09:30:00	Roderic Lyne planned to hold a meeting between himself, Robin Butler and John Major to finalise the British government delegation's position before Major's call with Albert Reynolds. We do not have a record of this meeting.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	09:50:00	[Exact time unknown] It had been arranged for John Major to phone Albert Reynolds between 9.30 and 10.15. We do not have a record of this meeting.
Irish Government	11:00:00	Albert Reynolds was scheduled to be in a Cabinet meeting at 11.00. We do not have a record of this meeting.
British Government	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne reported amendments to the Joint Declaration to John Major.
Informal British-Irish Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Final drafts of the declaration were exchanged.
British-Eames Bilaterals	18:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Roderic Lyne met with Robin Eames to brief him on the plan to issue the Joint Declaration on the following day. He emphasised that supportive comments from the Archbishop would be welcomed.

Wednesday, 15 December 1993

Committee	Time	Description
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings	12:00:00	[Exact time unknown] Albert Reynolds and John Major issued the final version of the Joint Declaration (JD20).