Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2013
43. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of his commitment to do so, he has made plans to visit the Short Strand community in Belfast, to discuss the experiences community residents had during violent flag protests. [8851/13]
View answerI am regularly briefed by officials from my Department who have visited the Short Strand regularly in recent weeks, and who continue to maintain close contact with members of the local community and to provide them with practical support. It remains my intention also to visit the Short Strand on an early suitable date as part of my ongoing programme for visits and engagements in Northern Ireland. In view of forthcoming parades passing Short Strand and other interfaces, both the Irish and British Governments are of the view that the Parades Commission needs to be strongly supported and that its determinations must be respected. I would encourage all parties to engage with local residents at interfaces to identify compromise solutions that respect the wishes of both marchers and resident communities.
Many local communities in Northern Ireland continue to be affected by the blight of sectarianism. This can be particularly pronounced for those living close to interfaces, such as in the Short Strand, and I am acutely conscious of the potential for further increased tensions during periods around contentious parades in particular.
Building relationships between divided communities takes time and sustained effort and investment. The recent violent street disturbances are a reminder that the challenge remains to build a society that can accommodate competing notions of identity.
There is ongoing reconciliation work taking place, in particular at community level, and including that supported by my Department through the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds.
We will continue our efforts and will support the efforts of the NI Executive and elected political leaders in Northern Ireland to formulate a strategy framework and vision for a united, peaceful and reconciled society. I will also continue to work closely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP, in line with the shared responsibility of the two Governments to support the full implementation of the Good Friday and St Andrew’s Agreements to achieve their vision of a peaceful and reconciled society in Northern Ireland.
