1993

Downing Street Declaration issued (Joint Declaration for Peace) by the British Prime Minister, John Major, and the Irish Taioseach (Prime Minister), Albert Reynolds. It confirms that there is to be no change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland without the consent of the majority. The future of Northern Ireland should be self-determined by the Irish people on a north and south basis.

1994

IRA announces cease-fire. Combined Loyalist Military Command reciprocates six weeks later. Establishment of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in October 1994 following the cease-fires announced by the IRA and loyalist paramilitary organisations. The forum aims at the pursuit of ‘lasting peace and reconciliation by agreement among all the people of Ireland.

1995

Daylight troop patrols end in most areas. Framework Documents published, calling for a devolved Northern Ireland Assembly and cross-border political and economic bodies.

1996

Mitchell Commission proposes decommissioning of paramilitary weapons parallel to all-party talks. The British Government calls elections to a ‘Peace Forum’. The IRA resumes violence by detonating a bomb at Canary Wharf in London which kills two people. Sinn Fein are excluded from multi-party peace talks beginning on 10 June 1996.

1997

New Labour Government insists that the ‘settlement train is leaving’ at round-table talks in September. IRA renews its cease-fire in July to facilitate Sinn Fein’s entry to these talks. Sinn Fein enters talks on 15 September 1997. All-party talks remain a distant prospect, however, as the DUP and UK Unionist Party stay away.

1998

Good Friday Peace Agreement signed by the parties to the conflict and accepted in a referendum both in the south and in the north of Ireland.