Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:3. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach the dialogue forums with which the shared island unit has consulted to date. [6425/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 February 2021
Ceisteanna (3)
Freagraí scríofa
On 22 October, as part of the Government’s Shared Island initiative, I launched the Shared Island Dialogue series to foster inclusive and constructive dialogue on all aspects of a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
The first Shared Island Dialogue was held online on 26 November on the theme ‘New Generations and New Voices on the Good Friday Agreement’. I took the opportunity to address more than 80 young people from across the island who participated, representing different backgrounds and interests, and who put forward their ideas for a shared future on the island across a range of themes.
A Shared Island Dialogue was held on 5 February, with the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, on the theme of ‘Environment and Climate - addressing shared challenges on the island’. There were over 100 participants in this online dialogue, including civil society groups, business and agriculture representatives, academic and research experts, local authorities and environmental and sustainable development agencies. The Dialogue addressed how we can best work together on the island to tackle the climate emergency and address the biodiversity crisis and future priorities for all-island co-operation on the environment.
In December, as part of the Dialogue series, the Shared Island unit convened roundtable sessions with women’s representatives and with ethnic minority communities on the island, to hear their interests in and priorities for a shared island, and reflecting the Government’s commitment to ensuring the inclusion of often under-represented voices in the Peace Process.
The Shared Island Dialogue series will continue through 2021, to foster civic engagement on important issues for the future of the island, including on health, education and economy, and on key civic aspects of the Good Friday Agreement, including on identity and equality. Plenary sessions are available online at www.gov.ie/sharedisland/dialogues.