Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 9 October 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Northern Ireland Peace Monitoring Report: Northern Ireland Community Relations Council

12:00 pm

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will discuss that again. Ms Gordon also mentioned positive leadership and those ills of society and I think we need to change focus, bringing people together. One issue she mentioned concerned integrated and shared education, which is certainly unique and needs to be fostered. Deputy Ferris also raised an issue about targeting unemployment. I have visited the Titanicexhibition three times in east Belfast. I am sure it has created much-needed employment. I agree that we need to focus on shipyards or something similar that would help to target unemployment in an area.
The Derry City of Culture has been absolutely incredible. I do not think that good news story has gotten around the country. I was delighted to see one or two of the Unionist or loyalist bands down at the Fleadh Cheoil in Sligo. This is the way forward and we need to highlight the positives that are happening. It is worrying that, as the Community Relations Council report states, the moral basis of the 1998 peace accord has evaporated. The absence of trust is also worrying. We need to get trust back again.
I thank the witnesses. It has been a very useful meeting. We will try to ensure that we meet with the Community Relations Council on a regular basis, because it represents all the good work that is done. The committee will visit it in Belfast or elsewhere on an outreach visit to see the local and community groups involved in reconciliation. Reconciliation is a word that we sometimes put at the back of our minds, but it should be very positive.
When one sees the cost of Twaddell Avenue, which I was at as well, and when Ms Gordon talked about the 40% higher unit cost of teacher training in Northern Ireland compared to the UK, these are issues that also need to be addressed. We will endeavour to seek more funding for very worthwhile projects. The people in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland need to unite. The issue of politicians going to the lowest common denominator is not unique to Northern Ireland. We need to unite the people of Ireland and if this committee can be helpful that would be positive.
On behalf of the committee, I wish the Community Relations Council well in its future work. It is difficult work that has made a difference, and we want to work with the council.

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