The Downing Street Declaration, 15 December 1993


When Albert Reynolds met John Major at a European Community summit in October 1993, he argued that they needed to take charge of the situation in Northern Ireland if progress was to be made. He convinced Major to join him in spearheading a new initiative.


Reynolds and Major agreed that neither of their governments would hold any more secret talks with terrorist groups so as to prevent accusations of collusion or secret agreements. They also agreed that new decisions on the future of Northern Ireland would have to be agreed by both governments. The status of Northern Ireland would not be changed without the support of the majority of its citizens. The two leaders’ primary goal was to secure an IRA ceasefire, as they believed that successful negotiations could not take place while the violence continued.


Prime Minister John Major and Taoiseach Albert Reynolds deliver the Downing Street Declaration.


Major and Reynolds issued a joint statement, the Downing Street Declaration, on 15 December 1993 from the steps of No. 10 Downing Street. The brief statement made clear to all sides in Northern Ireland the political position of the Irish and British governments:


The British Government agree that it is for the people of the island of Ireland alone, by agreement between the two parts respectively, to exercise their right of self-determination on the basis of consent, freely and concurrently given, North and South, to bring about a united Ireland, if that is their wish.


The British government had agreed to allow Northern Ireland to reunify with the South, if it was the will of the majority, but it also held that Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom as long as this, too, was the will of the majority. The Taoiseach, for his part, declared that ‘it would be wrong to attempt to impose a united Ireland, in the absence of the freely given consent of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland’. The future of Northern Ireland was to be decided by its citizens. The statement was broad enough to provide assurances to both nationalists and unionists. Later that afternoon Albert Reynolds called on the Provisional IRA to end its campaign so as to facilitate peace talks.


‘I appeal directly to the Provisional IRA to respond now to the wishes of the Irish nation clearly and emphatically expressed on repeated occasions to stop the killing. If the self-determination of the Irish people has any meaning or application, it surely applies above all else to the repeated rejection of support for violence at the polls by a large majority of both communities on this island. Once violence permanently ceases, the political leadership of Sinn Féin can join the rest of the democratic politicians on this island in working for a better and freer future for us all, for true peace and justice.’ (Dáil Debates. Joint Declaration on Peace in Northern Ireland: Statements. Wednesday, 15 December 1993)


The IRA Ceasefire and Developments after 1993


Republicans found themselves in a difficult position following the Downing Street Declaration. The IRA still sought British withdrawal and a united Ireland, as opposed to seeking the consent of both the Irish Republic and the people of Northern Ireland to reunification. However, if they rejected the declaration, this would cost them support. Adams and McGuinness believed that the declaration opened the way for Sinn Féin to take its place alongside the North’s other political parties in discussions on the future of Northern Ireland, and were eager for the IRA to accept it.


POLITICS AND SOCIETY IN NORTHERN IRELAND, 1949–1993 365


CHAPTER 11CHAPTER 8 TOPIC 5


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