Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive, together.

Through the Government's shared island initiative, we are engaging with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future and delivering tangible benefits for the whole island. This is underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. This work is proceeding on a whole-of-government basis and we are working with the Northern Ireland Executive, UK Government and cross-Border local-authority, education-institution and civil-society partnerships.

To date, the Government has allocated €140.4 million from the shared island fund to move forward with projects that implement commitments and objectives on the shared island initiative, as set out in the programme for Government and the revised national development plan. Shared island fund projects are taken forward by the relevant Minister and his or her Department, working through all-island partnerships. Allocations are included in departmental Votes, as needed, over a multi-annual period, managed by the relevant Department with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The allocations from the shared island fund to date are €5 million for the shared island local authority development funding scheme; €3 million to bring the Narrow Water bridge project to tender; and €47 million for phases 2 and 3 of the Ulster Canal restoration, taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. There is €40 million for the North-South Research Programme and €20 million for all-island research centres, taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science. There is €15 million for the shared island electric vehicle charging infrastructure scheme and €3 million for a shared island strand in the community climate action programme, taken forward by the Minister for Transport and for the Environment, Climate and Communications. There is €7.4 million for shared island arts investment projects, taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Fostering inclusive and constructive dialogue is also central to our shared island approach.

More than 2,200 citizens and civic representatives have participated in 12 shared island dialogue events so far. This year, the events have been held in person and on a regional basis across the island. The All-Island Women's Forum, convened by the National Women's Council, was a very welcome follow-on from one of the early engagements as part of the dialogue series with women's representatives. The forum aims to address under-representation of women and further develop women's role in peace-building and civic society. Its work has been supported through the reconciliation fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs. I was pleased to launch the forum's first report on 8 September. This set out its first term of work and made recommendations, for both jurisdictions on the island, on tackling gender-based violence, civic engagement, education, media and women's political participation. The Government will consider and positively engage with the forum's recommendations, consulting the Executive and the UK Government, as relevant.

The Government looks forward to continuing to engage with the All-Island Women's Forum as it continues to provide an important, necessary space for civic dialogue led by women, contributing to wider public debates and helping to shape the all-island civic agenda.

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