- Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00
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.
Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings
This committee has been created to model meetings between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Session 22012: 1993-12-10 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.
Membership (at session start):
John Major, Albert Reynolds (2 total)
Representing 2 delegations:
British Government , Irish Government
Imported Documents
- Joint Declaration: JD15 (e1308120) imports from Informal British-Irish Bilaterals,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 11:30 - Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration (e1310648) imports from Informal British-Irish Bilaterals,
on Thursday, 09 December 1993, at 18:00
Imported Amendments
- British Government Amendment to Alternative Reaffirmation of Constitutional Guarantee in 2(3) (e1308121) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - First John Hume Amendment to British Government Amendment to Alternative Reaffirmation of Constitutional Guarantee in 2(3) (e1308122) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Second Alternative John Hume Amendment to British Government Amendment to Alternative Reaffirmation of Constitutional Guarantee in 2(3) (e1308123) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - British Government Amendment to 4(1) (e1308124) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Irish Government Redraft of British Government Amendment to 4(1) (e1308125) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Molyneaux's Deletion of 'Assist' from 4 (e1308126) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - British Government Deletion from 4(5/6) (e1308127) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Irish Government Amendment to British Government Deletion from 4(5/6) (e1308128) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Second Alternative Irish Government Amendment to British Government Deletion from 4(5/6) (e1308129) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - British Government Amendment to 4(7/8) (e1308130) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - British Government Amendment to 12(4) (e1308131) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Notice of Inclusion of the Magee List (e1308132) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - New Final Paragraph (e1308133) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - First Irish Government Correction of Transmission Error (e1308134) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - British Government Amendment to 13(2) (e1308143) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Second Irish Government Correction of Transmission Error (e1308144) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - British Government Amendment to Strike Out Paragraphs 10 and 11 (e1308146) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00 - Further Irish Government Amendment to 12(5) (e1308147) imports from Prime Minister-Taoiseach Meetings,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 15:00
Exported Documents
- Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration (e1310648)
- Imported by 'Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration' (e1310969) in Irish Government,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 18:00 - Imported by 'Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration' (e1310972) in British Government,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 18:00
- Imported by 'Timing of a Meeting to Issue the Joint Declaration' (e1310969) in Irish Government,
- Press Line (e1310665)
- Imported by 'Press Line' (e1310971) in Irish Government,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 18:00 - Imported by 'Press Line' (e1310974) in British Government,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 18:00
- Imported by 'Press Line' (e1310971) in Irish Government,
- Secure Civil and Ecclesiastic Support for the Joint Declaration (e1310661)
- Imported by 'Secure Civil and Ecclesiastic Support for the Joint Declaration' (e1310970) in Irish Government,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 18:00 - Imported by 'Secure Civil and Ecclesiastic Support for the Joint Declaration' (e1310973) in British Government,
on Friday, 10 December 1993, at 18:00
- Imported by 'Secure Civil and Ecclesiastic Support for the Joint Declaration' (e1310970) in Irish Government,
Exported Amendments
Resources (30):
Resource Collections (0):
None
Resource Items (30):
Briefing Letter from Jonathan Stephens to Roderic Lyne Regarding the Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds at the EC Summit on 10/11 December 1993 - (file)
Describes the objectives of the meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds at the margins of the EC Summit and lays down the major points of discussion. Encloses a note with detailed points on the topics to be covered and another note with the text along with the amendments proposed by both sides.
Briefing Letter from Jonathan Stephens to Roderic Lyne Regarding the Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds at the EC Summit on 10/11 December 1993 - (file)
Describes the objectives of the meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds at the margins of the EC Summit and lays down the major points of discussion. Encloses a note with detailed points on the topics to be covered and another note with the text along with the amendments proposed by both sides.
Enclosure: Annex A – Briefing Note for John Major for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Major is instructed to set out the date (14 December) that the British envisage for making a statement on the Declaration in London and that both would then make the actual statement the following day in their respective parliaments. He should also reiterate to Reynolds that the British are against announcing an Irish Convention, and prefer the term "forum".
Enclosure: Annex A – Briefing Note for John Major for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Major is instructed to set out the date (14 December) that the British envisage for making a statement on the Declaration in London and that both would then make the actual statement the following day in their respective parliaments. He should also reiterate to Reynolds that the British are against announcing an Irish Convention, and prefer the term "forum". This draft contains more detail and subheadings when compared to a later draft.
Enclosure: Annex A – Points to Make for Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds at EC Summit on 10/11 December 1993 - (file)
Points to make in John Major's meeting with Albert Reynolds with regards to the Anglo-Irish talks and the Joint Declaration Initiative.
Enclosure: Annex A – Points to Make for Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds at EC Summit on 10/11 December 1993 - (file)
Points to make in John Major's meeting with Albert Reynolds with regards to the Anglo-Irish talks and the Joint Declaration Initiative.
Enclosure: Annex A – Briefing Note for John Major for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Major is instructed to set out the date (14 December) that the British envisage for making a statement on the Declaration in London and that both would then make the actual statement the following day in their repsective paraliaments. He should also reiterate to Reynolds that the British are against announcing an Irish Convention, and prefer the term "forum". This draft contains more detail and subheadings when compared to a later draft.
Enclosure: Annex A – Briefing Note for John Major for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Major is instructed to set out the date (14 December) that the British envisage for making a statement on the Declaration in London and that both would then make the actual statement the following day in their respective parliaments. He should also reiterate to Reynolds that the British are against announcing an Irish Convention, and prefer the term "forum".
Enclosure: Annex B – Briefing Note for John Major on the Joint Declaration Text for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Encloses JD15 which emerged from the Butler/Nally group and JD15B which includes British proposed amendments and those from Jim Molyneaux. This note explains the various amendments in turn, from Paragraph 2, 3, 4, 10, 12 and some specific phrasings that they have got rid of. Page 5 also includes a distribution list for the letter and its enclosed documents.
Enclosure: Annex B – Briefing Note for John Major on the Joint Declaration Text for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Enclosed JD15 which emerged from the Butler/Nally group and JD15A which includes British proposed amendments and those from Jim Molyneaux. This note explains the various amendments in turn, from Paragraph 2, 3, 4, 10, 12 and some specific phrasings that they have got rid of.
Enclosure: Annex B – Briefing Note for John Major on the Joint Declaration Text for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Enclosed JD15 which emerged from the Butler/Nally group and JD15A which includes British proposed amendments and those from Jim Molyneaux. This note explains the various amendments in turn, from Paragraph 2, 3, 4, 10, 12 and some specific phrasings that they have got rid of.
Enclosure: Annex B – Briefing Note for John Major on the Joint Declaration Text for a Meeting with Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Encloses JD15 which emerged from the Butler/Nally group and JD15B which includes British proposed amendments and those from Jim Molyneaux. This note explains the various amendments in turn, from Paragraph 2, 3, 4, 10, 12 and some specific phrasings that they have got rid of. Page 5 also includes a distribution list for the letter and its enclosed documents.
Enclosure: Annex B – Explanatory Note on the Text of JD15 and JD15B - (file)
Points to make in John Major's meeting with Albert Reynolds with regards to the Anglo-Irish talks and the Joint Declaration Initiative. Encloses the proposed text of JD15B with the British and Irish proposed amendments underlined, and the agreed text of the Joint Declaration with the provisionally agreed amendments.
Enclosure: Annex B – Explanatory Note on the Text of JD15 and JD15B - (file)
Points to make in John Major's meeting with Albert Reynolds with regards to the Anglo-Irish talks and the Joint Declaration Initiative. Encloses the proposed text of the JD15 with the British and Irish proposed amendments underlined, and the agreed text of the Joint Declaration with the provisionally agreed amendments.
Enclosure: Annex C – Joint Statement on Northern Ireland, 29 October 1993 - (file)
Joint statement released by both Governments on 29 October 1993.
Enclosure: Annex C – Joint Statement on Northern Ireland, 29 October 1993 - (file)
Joint statement released by both Governments on 29 October 1993.
Enclosure: Briefing Note – Lines to Take on the Joint Declaration in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Sets out what the British response should be to the Irish Governments last minute draft changes to the Joint Declaration. British should stay firm on most of the issues as the note underlines "resist" at several points. It also contains some fallbacks if the Irish continue to push for certain changes. Note also contains some brief annotations and lines.
Enclosure: Draft Letter from Jonathan Stephens to Roderic Lyne drafted by Quentin Thomas Regarding a Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
The meeting will discuss the last minute work towards the Joint Declaration, but it should be played down publicly by both sides. The letter lists five main points for discussion, which includes the text itself as well as wider logistical questions. Annex A deals with these practical questions, whilst Annex B sets out the textual problems and answers. Annex C contains a Joint Statement made in Brussels on the 29 October. It also gives a brief summary of the points raised in a meeting between Michael Ancram and Jim Molyneaux.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration (JD15) – 7 December 1993 - (file)
Text of the Joint Declaration with provisionally agreed amendments underlined.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration (JD15) – 7 December 1993 - (file)
Text of the Joint Declaration with provisionally agreed amendments underlined.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration (JD15B) – 9 December 1993 - (file)
Text of the Joint Declaration with British proposed amendments underlined in unbroken line and Irish proposed amendments underlined with broken line.
Enclosure: Letter from Jonathan Stephens to Roderic Lyne drafted by Quentin Thomas Regarding a Meeting Between John Major and Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
The meeting will discuss the last minute work towards the Joint Declaration, but it should be played down publicly by both sides. The letter lists five main points for discussion, which includes the text itself as well as wider logistical questions. Annex A deals with these practical questions, whilst Annex B sets out the textual problems and answers. Annex C contains a Joint Statement made in Brussels on the 29 October. It also gives a brief summary of the points raised in a meeting between Michael Ancram and Jim Molyneaux.
Letter from Jonathan Stephens to Roderic Lyne Regarding a Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
The meeting should be played down publicly and should not be concerned with textual negotiations as the text has already been agreed. The only problem is the Irish Convention, which whilst removed from the text, continues to be an idea Albert Reynolds wishes to pursue. He also gives a brief summary of Michael Ancram's meeting with Jim Molyneaux. Enclosed is a draft note for the Prime Ministers use.
Letter from Jonathan Stephens to Roderic Lyne Regarding a Meeting Between John Major and Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
A written note on the first page indicates that this is a redraft by Quentin Thomas of David Cooke's draft letter. The meeting will discuss the last minute work towards the Joint Declaration, but it should be played down publicly by both sides. The letter lists five main points for discussion, which includes the text itself as well as wider logistical questions. Annex A deals with these practical questions, whilst Annex B sets out the textual problems and answers. Annex C contains a Joint Statement made in Brussels on the 29 October. It also gives a brief summary of the points raised in a meeting between Michael Ancram and Jim Molyneaux.
Letter from Roderic Lyne to Jonathan Stephens Regarding a Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds in Brussels on 10 December 1993 - (file)
The key issue was recent drafts that in Reynolds view tilted the balance of the Joint Declaration text. Major came away from the meeting feeling that Reynolds might not even want to do it anymore. Nonetheless, they agreed arrangements.
Record of a Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds on 10 December 1993 - (file)
Meeting was slightly tense due to the Irish having firmed their position, arguing that the balance of the Declaration was otherwise incorrect. The Prime Minster argued that the political environment was tricky, as Paisley was stirring up the Unionists. Nonetheless, they concluded by agreeing that they were close to reaching an finalised text, but the Taoiseach did seem more apprehensive.
Record of a Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds on 10 December 1993 in the Afternoon - (file)
Record of PM meeting with Taoiseach. Martin Mansergh and Roderic Lyne also present.
Record of a Meeting between John Major and Albert Reynolds on 10 December 1993 in the Afternoon - (file)
Record of PM meeting with Taoiseach. Martin Mansergh and Roderic Lyne also present.
Summary Record of Joint Declaration Meetings in Brussels on 10 and 11 December 1993 - (file)
Reports the discussions on the margins of the European Council between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach. Encloses a minute of these exchanges.
Summary Record of Joint Declaration Meetings on 10/11 December 1993 in Brussels - (file)
Overview of discussions in Brussels on 10/12/1993 and 11/12/1993. Provides a summary of the "upshot of the three meetings", mainly around relations with the Irish government. Letter encloses a more detailed account of the second meeting (filed below)
Summary of events in this session:
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Procedure:
List of procedural motion
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Events (47)
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