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

I agree with the Deputy. In all of my visits to Northern Ireland and in my engagements, I have always ensured there was a community dimension to my programme. I refer particularly to meeting communities on both sides of interface locations, for example. I had a very interesting visit to Creggan and surrounding areas last year. It was striking that residents on both sides of peace walls said that they need to get to know each other better first, before any walls are taken down. The wall is the ultimate perceived barrier between the peoples and communities on both sides. It was very striking that communities in parts of Belfast I have visited are coming together through tremendous schooling and preschooling initiatives. Over time, those walls will literally melt away because the people will have engaged and come together. With the British Government, we can help to facilitate that through investment and the funding of community-based initiatives.

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