Transcript of an interview with Seamus Mallon, deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, by John Humphrys for BBC On the Record on 21 January 2001. The closing months of 2000 had seen heightened political tensions in Northern Ireland over IRA decommissioning, the implementation of the Patten report and leadership debates within unionism. Focusing on the policing issue, Mallon outlines the symbolic and practical difficulties of establishing a new police force in Northern Ireland. On the Record was BBC's flagship political programme.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 21 January 2001
Name of First Interviewee: Seamus Mallon
Role at time of Interview: Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and deputy leader of the SDLP
Interviewer: John Humphrys
Purpose: News
Media: Transcript
Copyright: © BBC On the Record
Link: Read the transcript
Programme/Book/Article: BBC On the Record
Time Period covered: 2001
Key Individuals: Seamus Mallon
Key Words: SDLP, policing, Belfast Agreement, Good Friday Agreement, emblem, RUC, UUP, suspension of devolution