Draft of a declaration which Sinn Féin suggests should be made jointly by the British and Dublin Governments
1. The British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach acknowledge that the most urgent and important issue facing the people of Ireland, north and south, and the British and Irish governments together, is to remove the causes of conflict, to overcome the legacy of history and to heal the divisions which have resulted, recognising that past failures to settle relationships between the people of both islands satisfactorily has led to continuing tragedy and suffering.
2. The development of closer European Unity will intensify the need for Ireland to be united in its approach to all major issues, in the context of Europe and beyond.
3. Both the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach are convinced that the securing of a comprehensive political settlement, with the consequent ending of conflict and the healing of divisions, can make a huge positive contribution to the future welfare and prosperity of Ireland and its people, as well as bring to an end one of the last remaining divisions in Europe. Both of them recognise that the ending of division can only come about through the agreement and co-operation of the people, north and south, and that the present constitutional arrangements have inhibited the development of this process. They therefore make a solemn committment to create a new political framework, encompassing all the people of the island and, in this context, to use all their influence and resources to foster agreement and reconciliation among the people of Ireland and between the peoples of Ireland and Britain.
4. The British Prime Minister reiterates, on behalf of the British Government, that they have no selfish, strategic, political or economic interest in Northern Ireland, and that their sole interest is to see peace, stability and reconciliation established by agreement among the people who inhabit the island. The British Government acknowledges also that it is the wish of the people of Britain to see the people of Ireland live together in unity and harmony, with respect for their diverse traditions, independent, but with full recognition of the special links and the unique relationship which exists between the peoples of Britain and Ireland. The British Government, consequently, commits itself to such unity (within a period to be agreed) and to use all its influence and energy to win consent for this policy.
5. The Taoiseach, on behalf of the Irish Government, accepts that the exercise of the democratic right of self-determination by the people of Ireland as a whole would best be achieved with the agreement and the consent of the people of Northern Ireland and that it must, consistent with justice and equity, respect the democratic dignity and the civil rights of both communities. The Irish Government would, accordingly, commit itself to working in the spirit and on the basis of the Report of the New lreland Forum, to create institutions and structures which, while respecting the diversity or the people of Ireland, would enable them to work together in all areas which affect them in common. This would help to build the trust necessary to end past divisions, leading to an agreed and peaceful future. Such structures would, of course, include institutional recognition of the special links that exist between the peoples of Britain and Ireland as part of the totality of relationships, while taking account of newly forged links with the rest of Europe.
6. Given the British Government’s commitment to facilitate this process, by removing the constitutional barriers to peace and reconciliation, the Taoiseach has indicated to the British Prime Minister his intention of establishing a permanent Irish Convention in order to consult and advise on the steps required to realise the unity of the Irish people by removing the barriers of distrust which presently divide the people of Ireland and to develop adequate guarantees and safeguards for all sections of the Irish people, north and south. The convention would be open to all democratically mandated political parties in Ireland who share the objective of a United Ireland, or who wish to share in dialogue about Ireland's political future and the welfare of all its people.
