Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
219. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress to date in establishing the civic advisory panel in Northern Ireland; if this is a devolved issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15657/22]
View answerThe full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent implementing agreements is a central priority for this Government. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s commitment to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island.
The Civic Forum was first established under Strand One of the Good Friday Agreement, as a consultative mechanism on social, economic and cultural issues. It comprised representative sectors of society, including the business, trade union and voluntary sectors, as provided for by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. It was to be reviewed at the time of the suspension of the institutions in 2002 and was not reconvened.
The 2014 Stormont House Agreement proposed the formation of a Compact Civic Advisory Panel. It was agreed as part of the New Decade New Approach agreement by the Northern Irish parties that this panel should be reformed and that 1-2 issues per year, as identified by the Executive, would be commissioned for civic engagement, with the Panel to propose the most appropriate model for specific issues including one Citizens Assembly a year.
The Government supports the implementation of this commitment, alongside all those made as part of NDNA. Progress on these commitments will be considered at further Implementation Review meetings involving the two Governments and the Northern Ireland parties. The first NDNA Implementation Review Meeting took place virtually in January 2021, attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the First and deputy First Ministers, and the leaders of the parties in the Executive. We would wish to see a second review meeting at the earliest possible date, but this may prove challenging in the context of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The Government also continues to support the establishment of the North South Consultative Forum, as provided for under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement, representative of civil society and comprising social partners and other members with expertise in social, cultural, economic and other issues. The Government has worked to move the issue forward, submitting proposals to the Northern Ireland Executive for its consideration. We have also raised the issue at successive plenary meetings of the North South Ministerial Council.
