One year after the introduction of Direct Rule and as the Government prepares to publish its White Paper, Ludovic Kennedy introduces a major television enquiry into possible paths towards a solution of the Northern Ireland crisis. This live open-ended programme will start with an account of the latest developments in the situation, including an outline of the Government's terms of reference for a solution from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon William Whitelaw, MP
Seven Northern Irish politicians, representing a broad spectrum of views in the Province, are then invited in turn to put their proposals to a panel of British journalists presided over by Lord Devlin
The politicians in order of appearance are:
Rev Ian Paisley, MP (Democratic Unionist), Frank McManus, MP (Unity), Oliver Napier (Alliance Party), William Craig (Vanguard), Erskine Holmes (Northern Ireland Labour Party), Gerry Fitt, MP (Social Democratic and Labour Party), Brian Faulkner, former Northern Ireland Prime Minister (Unionist)
They are questioned on their proposals by John Cole, Deputy Editor, The Guardian; Keith Kyle, writer and television journalist; David Wood, Political Editor, The Times
(Colour)