Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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157. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he took to mark the 20th anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2177/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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At my invitation, former British Prime Minister John Major delivered a lecture at Iveagh House on 11 December last, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Downing Street Declaration on 15 December 1993. The event was hosted and organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This was the third in a series of commemorative lectures forming the Iveagh House Lecture series. Each address has recalled a significant event in our history; the first, by Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson in 2012, on the centenary of the Ulster Covenant, reflected on the life of Edward Carson, Irish unionism and its place in our political life today. Last year, Governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, recalled the visit to Ireland fifty years ago of US President John F. Kennedy and reflected on Irish American relations.

The Government is committed to the commemoration of historical events in an inclusive manner based on the principles of historical accuracy and in cooperation with key partners at home and abroad. In line with this approach, the lecture was attended by guests from Ireland and Britain, members of both traditions in Northern Ireland, historians, leaders from civil society and elected representatives past and present.

Several of the guests had been involved in the negotiation of the Declaration and in later phases of the Peace Process. I was pleased in particular to welcome Kathleen Reynolds, representing her husband, former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, and members of her family, as well as former Tánaiste Dick Spring.

My opening address reflected on the significance of the Declaration in paving the way for an eventual IRA ceasefire. I noted the long, intensive and difficult work undertaken by the governments led by John Major and Albert Reynolds. This work was continued and developed by John Bruton as Taoiseach. I also acknowledged the immense contribution by US Senator George Mitchell, who was also in attendance, and who spoke about his personal experience of the peace process.

John Major spoke of his work in building Anglo-Irish relations, his approach to negotiating peace and of how setbacks were overcome. He spoke also of the deepening of the relationship between Ireland and Britain in the twenty years following the Declaration. His comments were broadcast by RTÉ. I appreciated in particular his positive encouraging remarks on the future of Northern Ireland.