Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he expects to encourage cooperation, mutual respect and interaction between the various communities in Northern Ireland, and including North/South relations, with a view to building on trust and understanding in a manner which enhances the ideals of the Good Friday Agreement. [18074/23]
View answerThe Government remains strongly committed to supporting the work of peace, cooperation, and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland.
I remain in regular contact with all communities in Northern Ireland, including the political parties, the business community, and civic society representatives.
In my engagements with Northern Ireland stakeholders, I have continued to encourage all communities to work together, including to urgently restore the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.
As a co-Guarantor of the Agreement, we have a particular responsibility to see these institutions operate as effectively as possible and deliver for people and communities, North and South.
The formal means for the Government to develop and encourage North South cooperation is through the North South Ministerial Council, which was established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement.
I remain deeply concerned that the work of the NMSC has been disrupted in recent years. It is crucial that the Council is allowed to resume its work as soon as possible.
Separately, in 2020 I launched the Government’s Shared Island Initiative to work with all communities to build a vision for our shared future on the island.
The Government has taken forward this ambitious agenda by progressing North South infrastructure projects, bringing all communities and traditions together through the Shared Island Dialogue series, and delivering a comprehensive research programme to inform inclusive civic and political dialogue on the future of our island.
The Shared Island Initiative is a whole-of-Government priority. I was very pleased to launch the Shared Island Civic Society Fund earlier this year. This Fund, which is being administered by my Department, will award €500,000 in 2023 to promote North South cooperation across a range of sectors and themes, consistent with the objectives and commitments of the Good Friday Agreement.
In addition to this, my Department’s longstanding Reconciliation Fund continues to encourage cooperation and understanding between communities. Since its establishment in 1982, the Reconciliation Fund has awarded over €60 million to support over 3,000 projects since its establishment in 1982.
In the period ahead, the Government will continue to work with all communities, and a new Executive, to further promote cooperation, trust, and understanding on an all-island basis.
