Sunday 12th August on BBC 1

On this week's programme, the Northern Ireland Secretary, John Reid, told Peter Sissons that "we're tantalisingly close to peace". He was giving his first interview since his decision to restore self-government after a 24 hour suspension.

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness told Breakfast with Frost that the IRA's proposals to start decommissioning have been put in jeopardy by the suspension of devolved government in Northern Ireland.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, Francis Maude, hinted that he may stand down from the Shadow Cabinet rather than serve under Iain Duncan Smith or Ken Clarke. "I am going to remain very active in Conservative politics, but not necessarily on the front bench", he said.

The President of the National Farmers' Union, Ben Gill told the programme that comments by the new Rural Recovery Co-ordinator, Lord Haskins, had made him angry.

And the Palestinian legislator, Dr Hanan Ashrawi, and the Israeli Cabinet Minister, Danny Naveh, debated peace in the Middle East

This week's transcripts:

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid and Sinn Fein's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary Francis Maude

President of the National Farmers' Union Ben Gill and environmental campaigner George Monbiot

Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi and Israeli cabinet minister Daniel Naveh