Audio interview with David Andrews, former Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, and James Downey, Irish Independent political columnist, by Diarmaid Ferriter on 20 April 2008 for the RTE Radio 1 series What If. Andrews and Downey discuss the events surrounding the Arms Trial in the Republic of Ireland in 1970 and examine its effects on peace and conflict in Northern Ireland. The interview was part of the What If radio series which examined historical events and processes from a counterfactual standpoint.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 27 January 2008
Name of First Interviewee: David Andrews
Name of Second Interviewee: James Downey
Role at time of Interview: David Andrews (former Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs), James Downey (Irish Independent columnist)
Interviewer: Diarmaid Ferriter
Purpose: Research, Academic
Media: Audio
Copyright: © RTÉ 2012
Link: Listen to the interview
Programme/Book/Article: RTE Radio 1 What If
Time Period covered: 1969-1971
Key Individuals: David Andrews, James Downey, Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Neil Blayney, Kevin Boland
Key Words: Arms trial, Fianna Fáil, public opinion, nationalist, violence, Irish unity, IRA