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This project models the series of formal and informal negotiations which led to the publication, in December 1993, of a declaration issued jointly by the British and Irish Governments. The Joint Declaration was a critical policy document which paved the way for a ceasefire and the entry of Sinn Féin into formal talks. It also laid out a shared set of principles – including, crucially, self-determination for the people of Ireland subject to the consent of the people of Northern Ireland – which would come to underpin the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and provide a framework for its ratification.
Source material
Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Library & Archive
Details
A small selection of papers held in the Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Library & Archive and selected by Ian McBride for their relevance to the drafting of the Downing Street Declaration.
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Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Proposal for a Democratic Over-all Political and Diplomatic Strategy Saturday April 1989Committee: Hume-Adams
Sinn Fein and the SDLP have been involved in a political dialogue aimed at examining the possibilities for the development of an overall political strategy to establish justice and and peace in Ireland. Several meetings have taken place since then both... Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Tom Hartley Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Danny Morrison Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Mitchel McLaughlin Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Seamus Mallon Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Sean Farren Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Austin Currie Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Sinn Fein Gerry Adams Tom Hartley Danny Morrison Mitchel McLaughlin SDLP John Hume Seamus Mallon Sean Farren Austin Currie Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Preparation of Written Responses to Papers Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Following this our sub-committee met weekly to discuss this meeting and to draft answers to the questions asked of us. A considerable proportion of Ard Chomhairle time was also taken up with the Sinn Féin/SDLP dialogue. Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: The meeting ended. This was the final formal meeting between the two parties at this point. The leaders met again to conclude the process on 11 July and 22 August 1988 and agreed public statements. Afterwards, they appeared to continue... Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' note: Austin Currie left the negotiation.] Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' note: Sean Farren left the negotiation.] Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' note: Séamus Mallon left the negotiation.] Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' note: Mitchel McLaughlin left the negotiation.] Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' note: Danny Morrison left the negotiation.] Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Agree to Review Progress Monday July 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
At a subsequent meeting between the two party leaders which took place on August 22nd, Monday August 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Proposed Joint Statement Monday August 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Remove 'Since February 1988' Monday August 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: The text was crossed out.] Monday August 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
SDLP wouldn't agree to publish it as a joint statement. [Editors' Note: Handwritten annotation on the document.] Monday August 1988Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Proposal for a Meeting to Agree a Common Nationalist Policy for Peace Sunday January 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Notes on N.I.O. Position Friday January 1988Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Notes on NIO Position on Government of Ireland Act Friday January 1988Committee: Irish Government
[Editors' Note: Martin Mansergh's discussions with Alec Reid began in February 1988*. This document is thought to have been written by Mansergh and sent to Reid as part of on-going discussions on Reid's proposals. This version, edited by Reid, is held... Sunday January 1989Committee: Irish Government
[Editors' Note: The document was sent to Father Alec Reid.] Sunday January 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Discussion Paper Outlining Principles for a Solution and Proposals for a Peace Forum Sunday January 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Reid Amendments: Discussion Paper Outlining Principles for a Solution and Proposals for a Peace Forum Sunday January 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editors' Note: Alec Reid's amendments were recorded.] Sunday January 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Proposals for a Democratic Over-all Political and Diplomatic Strategy for Justice and Peace Saturday April 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editors' Note: The additional proposals were added.] Saturday April 1989Committee: Irish Government
Discussion Paper Outlining Principles for a Solution and Proposals for a Peace Forum Sunday January 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Proposal for a Democratic Over-all Political and Diplomatic Strategy Saturday April 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editors' Note: The various versions of the proposals at this stage are difficult to sequence as they are undated. Some may have been prepared in parallel.] Saturday April 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Proposal for a Democratic Over-all Political and Diplomatic Strategy Monday October 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editors' Note: The final amendments to the proposals were made.] Monday October 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Proposal for a Democratic Over-all Political and Diplomatic Strategy for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Monday October 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editors' Note: The final version of the text was agreed prior to circulation.] Monday October 1989Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editors' Note: Father Reid shared documents with Tomás Ó Fiaich during this period.] Sunday January 1989