Mary Lou McDonald
Question:44. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his Department's Shared Island Dialogue series. [35912/22]
View answerWednesday, 13 July 2022
Questions (44)
Written answers
The Shared Island Dialogue series is a key part of the Government’s approach to engaging with all communities and political traditions on the island, to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Through the Dialogue series, the Government is listening to people’s views on a range of common concerns, and how we can work for a shared future, in practical, meaningful ways.
We are seeking as broad a range of experience as possible, and ensuring the inclusion of underrepresented voices, particularly of women, young people and ethnic minority communities on the island.
The Dialogue series will continue through this year with Dialogues now being convened on an in-person and regional basis, focussing both on sectoral issues and wider societal concerns for the whole island.
In May the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, addressed over 200 people at a Dialogue on ‘enabling rural and community development on a shared island’, which took place in-person in Monaghan and online. Rural and community groups, business organisations, social enterprise coordinators and Government agencies North and South came together to discuss linkages and cooperation in rural and community development, such as the role of social enterprises in rural communities, and the potential for rural hubs to support economic development and employability in rural areas North and South.
In June I addressed (via video message) a Shared Island Dialogue held in Derry with a focus on ‘identities on a shared island – new generation views’, which involved more than 150 young people engaging both in-person and online in discussion of issues including cultural identity, race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and ability on a shared island.
Young people from all communities, regions, identities and backgrounds, North and South, shared their views on “Cultural identities on a shared island - can we move from acceptance to celebration?”, addressing the challenges facing cultural diversity on the island, on the role that politics plays in how cultural diversity is considered, and exploring what a celebration of cultural diversity on a shared island requires. They also discussed the theme of “Personal identities - better representing diverse identities on the island of Ireland”, considering how aspects of personal identity - including race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, ability, socio-economic background etc. - are accommodated in society, North and South, and the dynamics for civil society in engaging for positive change.
Further Dialogues are planned for the second half of the year including on culture and on gender-based violence.
Question No. 45 answered with Question No. 43.