Video interviews with Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein MLA/MP for Mid Ulster, for ITN on 14 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. Blair and McGuinness discuss the legislation and possible unionist amendments to the bill.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 14 July 1999
Name of First Interviewee: Tony Blair
Name of Second Interviewee: Martin McGuinness
Role at time of Interview: Tony Blair (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom), Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein MLA/MP for Mid Ulster)
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, Tony Blair
Key Words: Belfast Agreement, Good Friday Agreement, UUP, Sinn Fein, decommissioning, IRA, power-sharing, paramilitary, failsafe, The Way Forward, IICD