Political initiatives introduced during the period of 'the Troubles'

POLITICAL INITIATIVES

• After two days of talks the British and Northern Ireland governments issue a joint policy statement known as the 'Downing Street Declaration' (this name is used again in 1993) on 19 August 1969.

• Brian Faulkner announces a parliamentary committee system at Stromont involving all parties. The proposal is undermined when SDLP withdraws from Stormont.

• SDLP set up an Assembly of the Northern Irish People on xx July 1971.

• Provisional IRA Army Council suggest the setting up of a Dail Uladh (nine-county Ulster Assembly).

• Last sitting of the Northern Ireland parliament takes place at Stormont on 28 March 1972.

• The Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Bill becomes law on 30 March 1972 introducing direct rule from Westminster.

• William Whitelaw, together with several other British ministers, meet members of the IRA in London on 7 July 1972.

• SDLP publish Towards a New Ireland on 20 September 1972.

• The Darlington Conference discusses political options for Northern Ireland between 25 September 1972 and 28 September 1972.

• Discussion paper, The Future of Northern Ireland, produced by the NIO.

• The government issues a white paper, Northern Ireland Constitutional Proposals, on 20 March 1973. (The Future of Northern Ireland??)

• Northern Ireland Assembly elections held on 28 June 1973.

• Sunningdale conference runs from 6 December 1973 to 9 December 1973.

• The Assembly is prorogued on 30 May 1974 following the UWC stike.

• A government white paper, The Northern Ireland Constitution (Cmnd. 5675), is published on 4 July 1974 which outlines a scheme for a Constitutional Convention.

• A government discussion paper, The Government of Northern Ireland: A Society Divided, is published on 5 February 1975.

• Elections for the Constitutional Convention are held on 1 May 1975.

• Last sitting of the Convention takes place on 3 March 1976.

• A consultative document, The Government of Northern Ireland: A Working Paper for a Conference (Cmnd. 7763) is published on 20 November 1979.

• The 'Atkins Talks' start on 7 January 1980. They end on 24 March 1980.

• A government discussion paper, The Government of Northern Ireland: Proposals for Further Discussion (Cmnd. 7950), is published on 2 July 1980.

• On 6 November 1981 Thatcher and FitzGerald decide to set up an Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Council.

• A government white paper, Northern Ireland: A Framework for Devolution (Cmnd. 8541) is published on 5 April 1982. ['Rolling devolution']

• On 23 July 1982 the Northern Ireland Act 1982 becomes law establishing the rules for the new Assembly.

• Elections for the new Northern Ireland Assembly are held on 20 October 1982.

• On 11 March 1983 the Irish government announces the setting up of an all-Ireland Forum. First meeting takes place on 30 May 1983. The New Ireland Forum Report is published on 2 May 1984.

• The unofficial Kilbrandon Report published on 1 November 1984 is a response to the Forum Report.

• On the 15 November 1985 the Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed by Thatcher and FitzGerald. [The International Fund for Ireland is part of the proposal.]

• Peter Brooke starts, on 9 January 1990, a process leading to all-party talks.

• The first meeting of the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary Body is held on 26 February 1990 in London.

• On 14 June 1991 Sir Ninian Stephen is named as the chairman for Stage Two of the talks process.

• Lancaster House talks, Strand Two of the process, are held during three days beginning on 6 July 1992.

• The Brooke / Mayhew Talks end on 10 November 1992.

• Sir Patrick Mayhew makes his 'Coleraine speech' at the University of Ulster, Coleraine on 16 December 1992.

• On 10 April 1993 John Hume meets Gerry Adams for the first time in two years for discussions. They issue a joint statement on 24 April 1993.

• On Wednesday 15 December 1993 Mr Reynolds and Mr Major issue a joint declaration which became known as the Downing Street Declaration.

• On Wednesday 30 March 1994 the IRA announced a three-day ceasefire to begin midnight on 5 April 1994.

• On Sunday 24 July 1994 Sinn Fein hold a conference in Letterkenny. The conference did not reject the Downing Street Declaration.

• On Wednesday 31 August 1994 the IRA announce a complete cessation of military operations.

• On Tuesday 6 September 1994 Mr Reynolds meet Mr Adams and Mr Hume at Government Buildings in Dublin.

• On Thursday 13 October 1994 the Combined Loyalist Military Command announced a ceasefire as of midnight. They offered "abject and true remorse" to "innocent" victims.