The 20th anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration is this Sunday, December 15th. The agreement marked a significant public sea-change for both the Irish and UK governments in the political approach to Northern Ireland's future. It helped lead to an IRA ceasefire eight months later, and paved the way for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
The UK Prime Minister at the time was John Major, who agreed the terms of the historic declaration with the then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds. Major talked to Pat on the show today to discuss the significance of the Downing Street Declaration.
Major stressed, "Albert Reynolds and I were both perfectly clear that this was a first step on the road to peace. It was the first time the British and Irish governments had agreed on a common set of principles from which we could move forward."
However, it still proved a complex process, and Major recalled, "There were many different areas that need to be covered from both the Unionist and Nationalist sides, to ensure good faith was evident on all sides. That's why it took so long to agree the Downing Street Declaration."
Talking about his relationship with Reynolds, Major recalled that originally, "We didn't know one another terribly well. But the moment Albert became Taoiseach and we began to have regular discussions, it was evident to us that it was absurd that two nations who were the closest possible nations should have had such frosty relations for so long and that we should have permitted a political dispute that was costing people's lives to run for decade after decade. In the interests of the future we thought it was necessary to do everything that possibly could be done to bring that to an end and reach an agreement that would end the bloodshed and change the relationship between the UK and Ireland."
However, Major also stressed, "Albert fought very hard for the Irish point of view, and I fought very hard for the British point of view... much of the debate was frustrating to Albert, and much of it was frustrating to me. But because we had a common objective we were able to move towards the centre."
As for John's alleged frustrated pencil snapping? "The snapping of the pencil has perhaps been a little overdone by history," Major recalls, "but it was at a very important meeting at Dublin Castle where Albert and I had a pretty fierce row. But the point about having a row with Albert is there are never any bruises. You would come back because we had a common objective and pick up from where you were."
You can listen to the full interview via the player above.
Image: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
