Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
413. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will match funding opportunities between the public and private sector to support civic engagement as part of the shared island unit in particular in those communities most impacted by the Border. [36429/20]
View answer414. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the realignment by his Department of reconciliation funding in relation to the shared island unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36430/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together.
The Programme for Government sets out the Government’s commitment to working with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. Research and dialogue will be at the centre of the Shared Island initiative. The Government will seek a broad base of contributions from across society on this island, and work to ensure that people who have been proportionally under-represented in the Peace Process, such as women and new communities on the island, are fully represented.
In October, the Shared Island Dialogue Series was launched to promote constructive and inclusive dialogue around the future of the island. The Dialogue series will start later this month and will focus on key sectoral issues including environment, economy, health and education. It will also engage on an inclusive basis on overarching concerns for the Good Friday Agreement, including around issues like identity rights and the equality agenda.
The Shared Island initiative involves a renewed focus on harnessing the potential of the Agreement to deliver tangible improvements and to deepen reconciliation. The work programme to be delivered by the Shared Island Unit will operate alongside the work of my Department, importantly including the work of my Department’s Reconciliation Fund.
The Reconciliation Fund awards funding to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community groups, and voluntary organisations to support reconciliation and to create better understanding between people and traditions on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. The projects supported seek to reach a broad range of communities and geographical locations in Northern Ireland, while also supporting the building and strengthening of links between North and South. Projects involving the border counties and the needs of minority communities in border areas are given high priority. A key aim of the Fund is to support initiatives that can increase understanding, respect and tolerance between people from different communities and traditions across the island. Many of the projects that we fund facilitate dialogue, not only in relation to past experiences of conflict but also looking ahead to explore perspectives on the future of the island. The objectives of the Reconciliation Fund are therefore fully complementary to those of the Shared Island initiative.
