Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I do have an interest in this area. In November I visited Derry and Belfast, and a couple of organisations I met there are worth a mention. Holywell Trust is a community relations and community development organisation committed to positively transforming the lives of local people through addressing interpersonal and societal challenges. We had a very good meeting there about the challenges the community and voluntary sector faces in Northern Ireland, and they came down on a return visit in February and were here in the Chamber to watch some of the proceedings. I also met people from the Playhouse Theatre and Peacebuilding Academy. That project aims to use theatre as a vessel to allow individuals whose lives have been deeply affected by the Troubles to share their stories with audiences. In Belfast I met representatives of the Shankill Shared Women's Centre. There is a huge project there that will provide a new neutral space and cross-community activities that will provide meaningful, purposeful and sustained contact between women, children and young people from both sides of the interface area. I had a meeting with the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, NICVA, in Belfast as well. It is the equivalent to the Wheel here in Ireland. Again, we shared some challenges from both sides of the Border and built some good relations there.

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