When I wrote 'Before The Dawn,' I made it quite clear that there are lots of people involved in my life who I can't talk about simply because I'd put them at risk.

It's hard to think of a 16-month child being anything other than a delight to be around.

It will always be a battle a day between those who want maximum change and those who want to maintain the status quo.

If you militarise a situation, you beg for an armed response.

In the past I have defended the right of the IRA to engage in armed struggle. I did so because there was no alternative for those who would not bend the knee, or turn a blind eye to oppression, or for those who wanted a national republic.

War some people glamorise war and glorify war. It's not nice, from whatever point of view you come from.

It's been a long time coming but the reality is that this process is at a crossroads.