21 Nov 2012, 17:22
The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement travels to Belfast tomorrow, Thursday 22 November to meet a wide range of community groups in predominantly loyalist areas.
21 November 2012
While the Committee has undertaken a number of visits to Northern Ireland and the border region, this visit will represent a substantial engagement on the ground with loyalist communities.
Over two days, the Committee will visit the Duncairn Partnership in North Belfast, the Short Strand Community Forum and Partnership, the East Belfast Methodist Mission, the Andy Tyrie Interpretative Centre in East Belfast and the Resurgam Trust in Lisburn. Rounding the trip off, on Friday 23 November, the Committee will attend the formal opening ceremony by First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of the Skainos Centre in East Belfast (Full itinerary below).
Committee Chairman Joe McHugh TD says: “Reflecting the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, the Committee is exploring practical ways towards reconciliation in all its discussions and activities. The Committee tomorrow travels to loyalist areas in East and North Belfast for the first time to view initiatives focussed on advancing community relations on the ground. We will also meet with the Short Strand Community Forum and Partnership, who work within the primarily nationalist Short Strand area in East Belfast. Over the course of the two days, we will meet with those at the vanguard of promoting reconciliation, tolerance and mutual respect between these communities and other communities across the island.”
“The visit will take in the formal opening of the cross-community Skainos Centre in inner East Belfast by First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. The project, which involved construction of an new urban village, is a model for development of a shared space, accessible to the whole community, in a contentious area.”
Follow this Committee on Facebook.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Peter Fitzpatrick, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Peter Fitzpatrick, Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Martin McAleese, Mary Moran, Mary White.
Chairman: Joe McHugh, TD Vice-Chairman: Joe O'Reilly, TD
Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
Visit to Belfast, Thursday, 22nd November and Friday, 23rd November 2012
ITINERARY
Thursday, 22nd November 2012
10.15am Duncairn Partnership, North Belfast
Presentation and discussion on the work of the partnership including
- Cross Community Initiatives
- Building Relations across interfaces
- Removing Peace walls
- Creation of a shared space
- Local Regeneration
The Partnership comprises the following organisations:
- Intercom
- Ground Work
- North Belfast Interface Network
- North Belfast Community Development and Transition Group
- Greater Newington Resident’s Association
- Tiger’s Bay Resident’s Association
- PSNI
Local Political Representatives from the DUP, SF, UUP and SDLP will be in attendance.
12.30pm Visit to Short Strand Community Forum and Partnership
1.30 pm Lunch at the Skainos Centre, East Belfast.
2.30pm East Belfast Methodist Mission
- Visit to the East Belfast Mission and the Skainos Project.
- Presentation from former combatants and ex-political prisoners about their journey from conflict to peace and their role in the transformation of Loyalist communities.
4.30pm Andy Tyrie Interpretative Centre
- Visit to the Andy Tyrie Interpretative Centre in East Belfast.
- Presentation on the origins and history of the Ulster Defence Association and its journey from conflict to peace.
- Meeting with former members and community activists in Loyalist areas
Friday, 23rd November 2012
10.30am Laganview Enterprise Centre, Old Warren Estate, Lisburn.
Visit to Resurgam Trust
Presentation on the work of the Trust including
- Developing a social economy model
- Addressing health and education needs
- Promoting community and youth work
- Creating employment opportunities for young people from “Hard to Reach” loyalist communities”
12.30pm Lunch – Skainos Centre
1.30pm Formal opening of the Skainos Centre in East Belfast by First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.