I.

Introduction

Gerry Adams, born in 1948, president of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which is dedicated to securing the reunification of Northern Ireland with Ireland. A member of the British Parliament from West Belfast in Northern Ireland from 1983 to 1992 and again since 1997, Adams has declined to take his seat, saying that he does not recognize the authority of the British government. Although some people doubt his ability to influence the IRA, he has been a key figure in negotiations to end the violence in Northern Ireland.