21 Nov 2013, 17:49
Oireachtas Committee hears of education challenge in urban Belfast.
21 November 2013
Three prominent Presbyterian Ministers told the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement this afternoon that the model of a shared education was as a way of tackling the sectarian challenges facing inner city areas of Belfast.
The Very Reverend Dr Norman Hamilton and Very Reverend Roy Patton, both former Moderators of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and Reverend Trevor Gribben addressed the Committee.
Chairman of the Committee Joe McHugh TD says: “We thank the Presbyterian Ministers for a detailed briefing on the current difficulties being experienced in the inner city Belfast communities, to which they minister. The Committee heard that education was key to ensuring disenfranchised youth in working class communities are empowered.”
Separately, the Committee heard from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland to discuss the on-going community work of political ex-prisoners. The Community Foundation is an independent grant-making charitable trust which has worked with loyalist and republican groups on these initiatives since 1995.
Deputy McHugh continues: “Engagement with ex-political prisoners involved in the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland afforded the Committee a useful insight into the challenges facing ex-prisoners. The presentation highlighted the leading role that they are playing in promoting and articulating change in Northern Ireland. Mirroring some of the issues highlighted in the first session, the witnesses spoke of the challenges they face in mentoring disenfranchised young people in their communities to resist the temptation of addressing their frustrations and fears through violence.”
\"The Committee continues to provide the space for different voices and groups who are contributing in a positive way to the peace process to be heard, appreciating the complexities on the road ahead in Northern Ireland and we will continue to keep our door open to different shades of opinions ensuring the conversation continues.\"
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
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paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies: Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Peter M Fitzpatrick, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Michael P Kitt, Joe McHugh (Chair), Joe O’Reilly (Vice-Chair), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Brendan Smith, Joanna Tuffy and Jack Wall
Senators: Maurice Cummins (Leader of the House), Jim D’Arcy, Mary Moran and Mary White