- Thursday, 09 December 1993, at 09:00
Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
This project models the series of formal and informal negotiations which led to the publication, in December 1993, of a declaration issued jointly by the British and Irish Governments. The Joint Declaration was a critical policy document which paved the way for a ceasefire and the entry of Sinn Féin into formal talks. It also laid out a shared set of principles – including, crucially, self-determination for the people of Ireland subject to the consent of the people of Northern Ireland – which would come to underpin the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and provide a framework for its ratification.
British Government
This committee has been created to model internal British Government documents and meetings.
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Session 22009: 1993-12-09 09:00:00
The Prime Minister held a ministerial meeting to discuss the Joint Declaration initiative. Various items of work were commissioned.
Membership (at session start):
Michael Ancram, Kenneth Baker, Tony Beeton, David Blatherwick, John Blelloch, Ian Burns, Robin Butler, John Chilcot, Ken Clarke, David Cooke, Jim Daniell, Timothy Daunt, John Deverell, David Fell, William Fittall, David Gillmore, Christopher Glyn-Jones, Richard Gozney, Michael Howard, Douglas Hurd, Roderic Lyne, John Major, Jonathan Margetts, Peter May, Patrick Mayhew, John McConnell, David McIlroy , Danny McNeill, R. O. Miles, Anthony Pawson, Christopher Prentice , Stephen Rickard, Malcolm Rifkind , A W Stephens, Jonathan Stephens, Quentin Thomas, Stephen Wall (37 total)
Representing 1 delegations:
Imported Documents
Imported Amendments
Exported Documents
- Sentences for Inclusion in Peroration (e1287017)
- Joint Declaration: JD15 (e1107349)
- Imported by 'Joint Declaration: JD15' (e1287118) in British-Molyneaux Bilaterals,
on Thursday, 09 December 1993, at 14:00
- Imported by 'Joint Declaration: JD15' (e1287118) in British-Molyneaux Bilaterals,
Exported Amendments
Resources (15):
Resource Collections (0):
None
Resource Items (15):
Record of a Ministerial Meeting on the Joint Declaration Initiative on 9 December 1993 at 09.00 - (file)
Relevant ministers and civil servants were present, including Michael Ancram who reported on his conversation with Jim Molyneaux on the 8 December 1993. Molyneaux had given him a draft document called "Blueprint for Stability". Then the meeting turned to the agreed draft text JD15, where they considered it sentence for sentence. The letter goes on to list the main points deriving from this. Mayhew also said that he thought that PIRA were on the verge of a cessation of violence.
Briefing Minute from Patrick Mayhew to John Major in Preparation for a Ministerial Meeting on 9 December 1993, 8 December 1993 - (file)
Outlines the developments that have taken place in the Joint Declaration Initiative since the Ministerial Group meeting and provides an assessment of the consequences of releasing the statement. Encloses the text of the JD 15 with the amendments underlines and also a handling plan for the events just before and following the release of the Joint Declaration. Lightly annotated.
Draft Speaking Note for Patrick Mayhew's Use at a Ministerial Meeting on 9 December 1993 - (file)
A draft speaking note for Patrick Mayhew's use at a ministerial meeting, which advocates proceeding with JD15. Enclosed with a covering letter from Quentin Thomas.
Enclosure: Annex B – Handling Plan for the Joint Declaration, 8 December 1993 - (file)
Provides a timetable for the release of the declaration and outlines some measures to undertake before and immediately after it. Lightly annotated.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration (JD15) as Considered during the Ministerial Meeting on 9 December 1993 - (file)
Text of the Joint Declaration with proposed amendments and annotated comments on the margins.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration (JD15) – 7 December 1993 with Annex A of Further Amendments Proposed by the NIO, 8 December 1993 - (file)
Text of JD15 with proposed amendments by British and Irish Governments underlined. Also contains a list of possible amendments on the last page.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration with Amendments Proposed on 9 December 1993 (JD15A) - (file)
Contains the text of the Joint Declaration with amendments proposed by the British Government, the Irish Government and James Molyneaux clearly marked. Annotated. Page 7 contains revised version of paragraphs 10 and 11, as proposed by the Irish Government.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration with Amendments Proposed on 9 December 1993 (JD15A) - (file)
Contains the text of the Joint Declaration with amendments proposed by the British Government, the Irish Government and James Molyneaux clearly marked. Annotated. Page 5 and 6 identical. Page 8 contains revised version of paragraphs 10 and 11, as proposed by the Irish Government.
Fax from Robin Butler to Roderic Lyne Regarding a Meeting with Martin Mansergh on 9 December 1993 - (file)
He attaches a working draft of JD15 with amendments agreed by ministers in a morning meeting, plus two coming from Jim Molyneaux. In this meeting, Mansergh gave him some further comments marked E in the text. They discussed his slight concerns over paragraph 4 and the Irish amendments to the text. Before finally dealing with the question of an Irish Convention, the practicalities of when to launch the Joint Declaration, and a meeing between the Irish and John Hume.
Key Questions for a Ministerial Meeting on 9 December 1993 - (file)
Lists questions for the British Government to consider in advance of the release of the Joint Declaration.
Letter from Roderic Lyne to Jonathan Stephens Regarding Malcolm Rifkind's Absence from a Meeting with the Prime Minister on 9 December 1993 - (file)
Lyne asked Rifkind's office for comments on some papers circulated on the 7 December regarding the Joint Declaration ready for the meeting. He is broadly happy with the text, but not enthusiastic as he has some concerns about tone and language. But, he will support it.
Malcolm Rifkind's Comments on the Joint Declaration for a Ministerial Meeting on 9 December 1993 - (file)
Conveys Defense Secretary Malcolm Rifkind's views on the text of the Joint Declaration for John Major's reference.
Malcolm Rifkind's Comments on the Joint Declaration, 8 December 1993 - (file)
A note from Roderic Lyne summarising the Defence Secretary's views on the Joint Declaration initative ('broadly content, but not enthusistic') in advance of a meeting on 9 December 1993 which he could not attend.
Minute from Roderic Lyne to John Major on the Joint Declaration, 7 December 1993 - (file)
Comments on the discussions around the Joint Declaration and outlines some goals in advance of the release of the statement. Encloses a report by Robin Butler on the Joint Declaration which is not available as an attachment to this file, but is recorded elsewhere in the folder. Annotated.
Record of a Ministerial Meeting on the Joint Declaration Initiative on 9 December 1993 at 09.00 - (file)
Provides account of meeting between John Major, Patrick Mayhew, Douglas Hurd, Kenneth Clarke, Michael Howard; Michael Ancram, Robin Butler, John Chilcot; Quentin Thomas and Jonathan Stephens. Records discussion on proposed amendments in the draft of the Joint Declaration.
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Procedure:
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Events (43)
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