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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Committee:British Government
  4. Thursday, 09 December 1993, at 18:00

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 23407: 1993-12-09 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.

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, Nicholas Lyell, 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 (38 total)

Representing 1 delegations:

British Government

Imported Documents

Imported Amendments

Exported Documents

Exported Amendments

  • British Government Amendment to 13(2) (e1291669)
  • British Government Amendment to 13(6) (e1291670)
  • British Government Amendment to 13(8) (e1291671)
  • Deletion of 'as of right' (e1290468)

Resources (12):

Resource Collections (0):

None

Resource Items (12):

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 – 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 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 C – Joint Statement on Northern Ireland, 29 October 1993 - (file)

Joint statement released by both Governments on 29 October 1993.

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.

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.

Hand Annotated Copy of Joint Declaration (JD15B) – 9 December 1993 - (file)

Fax of the text of JD15B with annotated comments on the proposed amendments.

Handwritten Note from Roderic Lyne to John Major Regarding Nicholas Lyell's Note on the Joint Declaration, 9 December 1993 - (file)

Notes that he will attempt to remove 'as of right' but that the question is not one of major importance.

Joint Declaration (JD15B) – 9 December 1993 - (file)

Text of JD15 with British proposed amendments underlined with unbroken line and Irish proposed amendments underlined with broken line.

Note from Nicholas Lyell to John Major Regarding the Joint Declaration Initiative, 9 December 1993 - (file)

This note, addressed to John Major, records the Attorney General's comments on the legal ramifications of the Joint Declaration. The key potential issue he identifies is the 'as of right' clause in paragraph 4.

Record of a Meeting between Robin Butler and Martin Mansergh on 9 December 1993 - (file)

Provides an account of the meeting between Robin Butler and Martin Mansergh regarding the amendments in the draft of the Joint Declaration. Encloses the text of the Joint Declaration with the amendments proposed by the British Government, and with sections with amendments proposed by James Molyneaux and the Irish Government marked. Addressed to Roderic Lyne, and also sent to John Sawers and Jonathan Stephens. Some text illegible and highlighted.

Record of a Meeting between Robin Butler and Martin Mansergh on 9 December 1993 - (file)

Provides an account of the meeting between Robin Butler and Martin Mansergh regarding the amendments in the draft of the Joint Declaration. Encloses the text of the Joint Declaration with the amendments proposed by the British Government, and with sections with amendments proposed by James Molyneaux and the Irish Government marked. Addressed to Roderic Lyne, and also sent to John Sawers and Jonathan Stephens. Some text highlighted.

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