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| 1999, July 16 |
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| While Sinn Fein desired an IRA disarmament after the formation of the new government, Ulster Unionist opposition insisted that weapons removal begin before the new coalition was allowed to take power. The start of Northern Ireland's new government was thus stalled. | 1 |
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| Nov. 27 |
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| The Protestant Ulster Unionist Party, headed by David Trimble, decided to allow Sinn Fein into the coalition cabinet before its IRA had begun disarming. | 2 |
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| Dec. 2 |
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| Through hard-fought compromise between Protestant and Catholic leaders, Britain's parliament was able to officially pass political authority over Northern Ireland to the new provincial government. This established home rule in Northern Ireland for the first time in several decades. Two Sinn Fein leaders, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, took their seats in the 12-member, four-party parliamentary body. A deadline of Jan. 31, 2000 was set for the start of the IRA disarmament. | 3 |
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