Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
30. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and with members of the Northern Ireland Executive on the need to establish the civic forum as provided for in section 56 of the Good Friday Agreement; the likely timescale for the establishment of this forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35975/13]
View answerParagraph 34 of Strand One of the Good Friday Agreement provided for the establishment of a consultative Civic Forum. Section 56 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 required the First Minister and the deputy First Minister, with the approval of the Assembly, to make arrangements for obtaining the views of the Civic Forum. The Forum was set up in October 2000 and was suspended along with the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2002. Following the restoration of devolved powers in May 2007, the then First Minister and deputy First Minister considered the position of the Civic Forum in the re-established devolved arrangements and commissioned a review of the effectiveness and appropriateness of its structure, operation and membership. In April, 2013 the Assembly voted in favour of an SDLP motion to re-establish the Civic Forum.
On 14 May, 2013 in a Dáil address I noted that the Civic Forum would provide for a broad range of voices on community relations and stimulate informed public debate in relation to key societal challenges. Building effective democratic institutions and policies requires civil society organisations, the business sector and the wider citizenship to play a role in providing legitimacy, ensuring democratic ownership, participation and accountability.
In my ongoing contacts with the Secretary of State and the Northern Ireland Executive I have pressed for the re-establishment of the Civic Forum as a valuable and as yet unimplemented provision of the Good Friday Agreement.
