Key documents

A list of key documents in relation to Anglo-Irish relations and the Northern Ireland Peace Process

Good Friday Agreement 1998
The Agreement reached at the conclusion of the Multi-Party negotiations in Belfast on 10 April 1998 which formed the basis for the current peace process.

The St. Andrew's Agreeement
Government proposals for achieving the restoration of the institutions (devolved Assembly and Executive).

Joint Strategy for the restoration of the Assembly and Executive, April 2006
Joint Statement by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach setting out proposals for the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive

Joint Statement January 2006
Joint Statement by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach following their meeting at Farmleigh, Dublin on 26 January 2006

Proposals for a Comprehensive Agreement 2004
Proposals for a Comprehensive Agreement published by the two Governments in December 2004. These proposals had been agreed to by the political parties in Northern Ireland, however, since differences remained over the process to be used to verify the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons, final agreement was not reached and the Comprehensive Agreement was not implemented.

Joint Declaration 2003 (PDF 88kb)
Declaration by the two Governments outlining the work that they had engaged in since the suspension of the Executive and the Assembly in 2002 and identifying areas where progress could be made in the ongoing implementation.

- Compliance and Monitoring (PDF 45kb)
Agreement between the British and Irish Governments for the establishment of a new body that will monitor and report on the carrying out of commitments relating to the ending of paramilitary activity and the programme of security normalisation.

- On the Runs (OTRs) (PDF 44kb)
Proposals by the British and Irish Governments in relation to On The Runs (OTRs)

British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act, 2002
Arrangements to provide for the continued functioning of the North/South Implementation Bodies following the suspension of the Executive.

Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement – Proposals by the two Governments July 2001
Proposals setting out a framework for achieving full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and addressing the outstanding issues of policing, security normalisation, stability of the institutions, and decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.

Achievements in the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, July 2001
A paper published by the two Governments summarising progress in implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

Remarks by the British Prime Minister on behalf of British and Irish Governments, 1 April 1999 Remarks made by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, on the publication of the Draft Declaration issued by the two Governments on 1 April 1999.

Draft Declaration at Hillsborough, 1 April 1999
Declaration issued by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, at Hillsborough Castle, 1 April 1999. The declaration set out the Governments’ proposals for achieving full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, including the establishment of its institutions.

Treaty Establishing a North/South Ministerial Council (8/3/99)
Agreement between the Irish and British Governments establishing a North/South Ministerial Council, further to Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement

Treaty Establishing Implementation Bodies (8/3/99)
Agreement between the Irish and British Governments establishing a North/South Implementation Bodies, further to Strand II of the Good Friday Agreement

Patten Report on Policing
Report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, established on foot of the Good Friday Agreement, and headed by Mr. Chris Patten

Bloody Sunday Report, June 1997 (PDF 556kb)
Bloody Sunday and the Report of the Widgery Tribunal: The Irish Government’s Assessment of New Material; presented to the British Government in June 1997

Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom establishing the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning 1997
Agreement to establish the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning which would facilitate the putting of all arms held by paramilitary organisations beyond use and report to the two Governments on progress achieved.

The Mitchell Report 1996
Report of the International Body established by the two Governments to provide an independent assessment of the decommissioning issue. The members of the Body were Senator George J. Mitchell (Chairman), General John de Chastelain, and Mr. Harri Holkeri.

The Joint Framework Document, February 1995
A New Framework for Agreement, published by the two Governments in February 1995, which set out how an honourable accommodation might be reached across all parties and communities and committing the two Governments to comprehensive negotiations involving the Northern Ireland political parties.

Joint Declaration December 1993 (Downing Street Declaration)
Declaration by the Taoiseach and Prime Minister setting out a charter for peace and reconciliation in Ireland

Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985 (PDF 2512kb)
Agreement between the British and Irish Governments which allowed the Irish Government to put forward views and proposals on many aspects of Northern Ireland affairs.

Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921
Final text of the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland which established the independent Irish Free State of 26 counties. The remaining 6 counties or Ireland formed Northern Ireland, which continued to be governed within the United Kingdom

“Shot At Dawn” Report (PDF 604kb)
“Shot at Dawn: A Report into the Courts Martial and Execution of Twenty Six Irish Soldiers by the British Army During World War I” submitted for consideration to the British Government by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on 27 October 2004.

British Irish Intergovernmental Conference

Treaty Establishing a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (8/3/99)
Agreement between the Irish and British Governments establishing a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, further to Strand III of the Good Friday Agreement. The Conference aims to promote bilateral co-operation between the Irish and British Governments. The Conference was established in December 1999, replacing the Anglo-Irish Conference established under the Anglo Irish Agreement of 1985 (PDF 2512kb).