Following an Anglo-Irish Summit British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher reiterates that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
Speaking to the media Margaret Thatcher expresses the shared aim of lasting peace and stability in Northern Ireland. However she dismisses each of the potential solutions for the conflict in Northern Ireland outlined in the New Ireland Forum Report. These being unity, federation, and joint authority.
I have made it quite clear - and so did Mr Prior when he was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - that a unified Ireland was one solution. That is out. A second solution was confederation of two states. That is out. A third solution was joint authority. That is out. That is a derogation from sovereignty. We made that quite clear when the Report was published.
The British Prime Minister continues by stating that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom because "that is the wish of the majority of her citizens".
This excerpt from the press conference was broadcast on the current affairs programme 'Today Tonight' on 19 November 1984.
