Video interviews with David Trimble, designate First Minister of Northern Ireland, and Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein, for ITN on 15 July 1999. On 2 July the British and Irish governments published ‘The Way Forward’, a document setting out a process for the formation of the Executive on 15 July and the beginning of decommissioning soon after. In response to UUP rejection of the proposals, Tony Blair stated that failsafes on decommissioning would be built into legislation on the devolution of power to Northern Ireland. The sense of political crisis was heightened on 15 July by the non-attendance of the UUP at Stormont to nominate ministers to the Executive, the abstention of the DUP and Alliance parties from nominating and the resignation of Seamus Mallon as designate deputy First Minister. Trimble and Adams discuss the future of power-sharing in Northern Ireland in light of these developments.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 15 July 1999
Name of First Interviewee: David Trimble
Name of Second Interviewee: Gerry Adams
Role at time of Interview: David Trimble (designate First Minister of Northern Ireland), Gerry Adams (President of Sinn Fein)
Purpose: News
Media: Audiovisual
Copyright: ©2013 ITN All rights reserved
Link: Watch the interview
Programme/Book/Article: ITN
Time Period covered: 1998-1999
Key Individuals: David Trimble, Gerry Adams
Key Words: Belfast Agreement, Good Friday Agreement, UUP, Sinn Fein, decommissioning, power-sharing