Oireachtas Committee Chairman marks 15th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

Deputy Joe McHugh TD says: “On behalf of Committee Members, I wish to acknowledge the 15th anniversary of what was a defining day in Irish history. Much has been achieved in the intervening years. The consolidation of peace and the practical cooperation between the political leaders of both communities has contributed to a greater stability and prosperity for those living in Northern Ireland and the border region.  

“This Committee, comprising Members from the Oireachtas and MPs from Northern Ireland, has contributed to fostering better links and dialogue between parliamentarians and groups from both sides of the border. In a concrete measure of the progress made since the signing of the Agreement, our Committee recently visited Belfast to engage community leaders of both traditions in North and East Belfast and Lisburn. The warm hospitality we received in loyalist communities in particular was a moving experience for many Committee Members, who told us that the gains of the past decade and a half should not be taken for granted.

“However, despite this progress, it is important that we acknowledge that we are still closer to the beginning of the peace process that the middle. The work the committee is doing at a grass roots level is primarily a listening exercise. And while the power sharing executive is a top down model, the empowerment process has to continue at a community level. Much has been achieved but there are still challenges which need to be addressed, be it in education, equality, sectarianism or a means to address the legacy of the conflict.

“As Senator George Mitchell reminded us at a Committee meeting last year, full implementation of an agreement is often more difficult and more important than reaching an agreement in the first instance. Reflecting the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, I foresee our Committee continuing to explore all practical ways towards reconciliation, enhanced cooperation and full implementation of the Agreement in its discussions, both in Committee and in its meetings at grass roots levels in Northern Ireland and the border region.”

“Tomorrow, Committee members will have a chance to reflect on the past 15 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and look towards the future when we meet with Peter Sheridan, Chief Executive, Co-operation Ireland; Neil Jarman, Director, Institute for Conflict Research and Professor Brandon Hamber, Director of INCORE University of Ulster. It’s an opportunity for Members to consider the progress that has been made in fostering peace and reconciliation since 1998 and discuss what challenges remain to copperfasten those achievements and promote greater co-operation and understanding between communities.”

This meeting starts in public at 10.45am tomorrow, Thursday, 11th April 2013 in Committee Room 4, Leinster House.

Follow this Committee on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GFAIC
Committee proceedings can be followed live at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

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