Ms Mary Montague:

On behalf of Tide Training and the whole delegation, I thank the committee members for taking the time to listen to us. Building the peace is not just a laudable aim; it is one of the most complex and toughest to achieve. Practitioners feel there needs to be systemic and structural change tackling the causes of division and the reasons sectarian and divisive attitudes continue to prevail. Beyond that, relationship-building work is critical to the building of trust, which is a key component of a shared and reconciled society.

We need a vision that takes the best of what we all represent to create something special that has not yet been possible on this part of the island or as part of the United Kingdom. That is why a large number of practitioners in the field of reconciliation, such as ourselves, have produced the document called Galvanising the Peace. The process has been facilitated by the Community Relations Council but is driven by us, the practitioners. We hope that after extensive discussion with civil society over the coming months, a thousand or more voices will identify a way forward for developing the peace process that highlights the critical issues and outlines the key needs.

The Northern Ireland peace process has comprised a series of initiatives designed to bring about an end to armed conflict, create the basis for a new inclusive political settlement and support reconciliation. It includes the implementation of the 1998 Agreement in addition to peace-building work on the ground.

The Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act provide an institutional architecture and underpinning structure for a society based on equality, human rights and good relations. Some progress has been made in dismantling the physical infrastructure of conflict but there is much work still needed to dismantle the attitudes that gave rise to the conflict and that sustain racism and sectarianism. Much of the goodwill displayed at the signing of the Agreement has evaporated. Sectarian and racist tensions and cultural conflicts have exacerbated this. Intolerance and hatred remain in many forms. Destructive political and community relationships can lead to violence. Anti-peace factions feed off this and have the potential to undermine progress. This position is unsustainable and causes a great deal of concern among us.

The peace process itself needs to be reignited and recalibrated. We need to build, not dismantle, the reconciliation infrastructure. We must utilise the commitment, courage and skills that people here have demonstrated for generations to move on to the next phase of the peace process.

The Agreement affirms a number of human rights, one being the right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnic background. To enable this aspiration to be a reality, an agreed strategy for our future aspirations is critical to address racism, sectarianism and segregation, encourage regeneration, challenge poverty and promote a shared society. Austerity measures are contrary to the creation of a vibrant and strong community. For this, people need to have access to good health care and have their educational needs met and opportunities for work. Strengthening the peace is essential for economic progress and creating jobs in areas that have experienced the most negative impact of the conflict enables a sustainable peace.

The changes happening as a result of the peace process have created a perception of loss and imbalance for some and a feeling that the process has not been of benefit to all. This perception must be addressed and it must be acknowledged that it is deeply felt across all working class communities. The Executive needs to give clear leadership and outline a path to a peaceful future based on equality, human rights and respect for diversity rather than a path to a society marked by sectarianism and intolerance and eroded by poverty.

The Agreement states, in respect of the past, that the achievement of a peaceful and just society would be a true memorial to the victims of violence. Practitioners feel the issues of the past must not be confined to those who lived through it. Our legacy is inter-generational and will have a profound impact as we move forward.

There is an urgent need to find a meaningful commitment and mechanisms to deal with the past and trans-generational trauma as victims and survivors are within every part of our society, regardless of age, community background or profession. It continues in the youth. The participants recognise that young people from areas affected by the Troubles face particular difficulties and will support the development of special community-based initiatives based on international best practice. There are many examples of good practice in youth work. However, we, as practitioners, believe this work is undermined in areas where there is still a paramilitary presence. Paramilitaries still act as gatekeepers in some communities and such behaviour drives out investment, hitting the poorest hardest, with an adverse effect on the youth of the area.

On policing, the Agreement states it should be responsive to the community's concerns and encourage community involvement, where appropriate. It is very difficult for those who live in fear and feel they cannot raise their head above the parapet as it rebounds not only on themselves but also on their families. The role of civil society and its confidence in policing are important. While providing resources to respond to community concerns is effective, it is also essential.

The Agreement goes on to state policing should be designed to ensure policing arrangements, including composition, recruitment, training, culture, ethos and symbols, are such that in Northern Ireland there is a police service that can enjoy widespread support from and is seen as an integral part of the community as a whole.

Police reform measures are under immense pressure as the PSNI strives to manage the legacy of the past while delivering policing services with less money. An example of this is the withdrawal of training in community relations and community policing as part of the reduction of training for new recruits from 40 to 20 weeks, but it is not just in policing. The justice system is feeding into one of the legacy issues. The community wants a quick response to anti-social behaviour. Therefore, communities are still looking for quick, effective local responses rather than the more formal and legal routes. It appears to the community that the system treats offenders better than victims and that harmers do not face the full consequences of their actions.

As regards our work as practitioners, it is stated in the Agreement that the participants recognise and value the work being done by many organisations to develop reconciliation, mutual understanding, respect between and within communities and traditions. They see such work as playing a vital role in consolidating peace and political agreement. Accordingly, they pledge their continuing support to such organisations and will positively examine the case for enhanced financial assistance for the work of reconciliation. We continue our efforts to grow peace, trust and reconciliation. Our commitment remains strong, but we are under severe strain. Intolerance and hatred are common and developing better relationships where they are difficult or non-existent between communities and people is critical. A participative framework involving civil society to build peace, support and good government is vital. To achieve this, as practitioners, we require a systemic approach with cross-departmental working, shared strategic and operational plans implemented through respectful partnerships between statutory, community, business and all other sectors. This will require investment and resources.

The galvanising peace process we are facilitating will, no doubt, engage civil society's participation in government and policy development, in ensuring people are not left behind by the political system or vice versa. In strengthening trust in the institutions, it may highlight a need for the final dismantling of paramilitarism and the reclaiming of communities by communities. It may suggest structural and systemic reform around education and housing. It will no doubt address the need for relational change amidst a concern that an erosion of the reconciliation infrastructure is taking place which could have significant detrimental consequences in the years to come. For practitioners like us in the field, it feels like this is a crossing point in the peace process. It is a time that will be judged by history. Was there a serious intent on the part of everyone to make the peace process work or was it a missed opportunity? All of us can make a contribution, whether large or small. What we do now will have a long-term impact on us, our children and our children's children. Many of us came into this work because of our children. We need to reflect carefully and find the courage to seize rather than miss the opportunity.

We are happy to take questions and actually have a chairperson. As peace practitioners, we need to be kept in order; therefore, Mr. O'Donnell will chair part of the discussion.