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
You cannot say that there is a peace agreement if some party has a private army armed to the teeth ready for action.
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.
Now winter is here and there is still no sign of spring.
It was made clear to Sinn Fein again and again and again that this experiment, this risk that we were taking, would be time-limited and would not run beyond the end of January.
Each of these steps takes a little bit of time, but we've made the significant step today at getting the process started, ... We've agreed on a program of work and indeed on the next meeting in this format which will be in June.
It may seem strange that we receive the reward of a race run while the race is still not quite finished.
It was a 'nearly' statement that got close to saying what needed to be said.
It will kill off this issue for a generation. I am quite sure the result would be an overwhelming endorsement of the Union.
It is patently obvious that those promises must be delivered, ... Let there be absolutely no doubt that I and my colleagues will hold republicans to the promises they have made. If there is any foot-dragging, there will be difficulties.
It really boils down to the question: Are they actually prepared to do anything?
There is no doubt that there are people in the republican movement who have been guilty of breaches of the ceasefire,
The people of Northern Ireland will now judge Sinn Fein on their actions over the coming days, ... An end to the war means the weapons of terrorism must be destroyed and all forms of paramilitary violence must cease for good.
The process is moving forward and the process is moving forward towards a particular result and towards completion. and the sooner we get there the happier everyone in Northern Ireland will be,
We have said repeatedly that we jumped first and gave them the chance to act... and a second chance. Doing nothing is not a cost-free option to republicans,