David Trimble
David Trimble
William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC, is a British politician who was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002, and the leader of the Ulster Unionist Partyfrom 1995 to 2005. He was also the Member of Parliament for Upper Bann from 1990 to 2005 and the Member of the Legislative Assemblyfor Upper Bann from 1998 to 2007. In 2006, he was made a life peer in the House of Lords and a year later left the...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth15 October 1944
CityBangor, Northern Ireland
CountryIreland
It is not just a question of a symbolic action with regard to handing in some weapons,
The IRA weren't getting what they wanted out of the talks. This is their response.
I have to say that the statement is very interesting. It does appear to break new ground.
If they (IRA) put their weapons completely and verifiably beyond use, then we'll all be delighted,
Our proposal to him, expressed very strongly indeed, is that that is the course he should follow,
while it does appear to break new ground, there are matters that should be probed.
There has been useful work done. There has been a degree of progress but ... it's not all there yet.
We can't have a situation where people are turning a blind eye to violence or allowing people to participate in the talks on an entirely false basis.
We came here in hope that progress could be achieved, we came here in the hope that there would be significant movement by the republican movement for us to enable us to move forward together.
We all knew that the agreement was not going to be a magic wand and ... that there are elements opposed to it. These elements will not succeed.
very interesting. It does appear to break new ground. There are some quite positive elements in it.
We will of course be reflecting on all of the things that have been said in the debate and carrying through the tactics that have been outlined,
The prisoner releases are a difficult aspect of the situation.
We want to ensure that nothing is imposed upon the people here, that their consent is paramount.