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 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.
The Republican movement have not behaved properly over the years. They have not themselves implemented the Agreement. If they had implemented the Agreement then they would have disarmed completely in May 2000, that is what they undertook to do, that is what they failed to do.
There are parts of this agreement that we are not happy with. But we have judged that we have enough here to build on.
ready to carry out their side of the agreement.
Circumstances give in reality to every political principle, its distinguishing colour, and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.
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're glad to see that the IRA has taken a significant step towards decommissioning but it hasn't actually begun decommissioning. And of course we want to see that happen.
We want to ensure that nothing is imposed upon the people here, that their consent is paramount.
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.
There have been problems, no doubt about it.