Martin McAleese (Independent)

I welcome the Minister to the House and I commend him for all his good work on the forthcoming series of commemorations.

I first spoke about the decade of commemorations or the decade of sensitive centenaries during a Private Members' motion debated in this House on 15 June last year I emphasised then that it was incumbent on all of us, North and South, Unionist and Nationalist, loyalist and republican, to find a collaborative way to manage the celebration of the events surrounding these centenaries, in such a way that value is added to the peace process rather than subtracted from it.

It may be more accurate to regard not alone the decade from 1912 to 1922 but rather the 13-year period from 1911 to 1923, as representing the turbulent years that had such a dramatic impact on the course of our island's history. There are approximately 62 events in that period which constitute the package of centenary celebrations, from the arrival of James Connolly in Belfast in 1911 through to the ending of the Civil War in 1923. These centenaries present a significant challenge but they also have the potential, if conducted sensitively, to fully consolidate the peace process and to allow us to leave a precious legacy to the generations yet to come.

The context in which we celebrate these centenaries is important. In Northern Ireland, communities for so long have been content to live apart and to a worrying extent they still do, engaging only superficially with the perceived stereotype of the other rather than engaging fully and comprehensively with the person behind that stereotype. This lack of engagement has caused communities to drift apart and to stay apart. Over time, this ignorance of each other has generated many ill-informed, negative and dangerous misperceptions of the other. Ultimately, it seed beds sectarianism, which has polluted and dehumanised the landscape of Northern Ireland for so long.

One of the big challenges in the past was to decommission weaponry; the biggest challenge in the future is to decommission sectarianism. We have made significant progress since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998 but it is important to remember that the peace process is exactly and only a process, a work in progress. Although many elements of this process have been completed, some may take years, perhaps even generations. As we continue on this journey, we must be vigilant and never take peace for granted, as circumstances could at any time conspire to undermine or derail the entire project.

Tackling sectarianism and failure to engage meaningfully with those who are different to ourselves is critical. At a recent conference, the chair of the Community Relations Council in Northern Ireland spoke of deep divisions in housing and education and the growing problem of racism. In referring to the scale of the challenge he remarked:

The number of interfaces in Northern Ireland was 22 when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. Today the number is as high as 88 by some estimates.

In addition, the number of so-called peace walls has doubled since the agreement was signed. Both these facts demonstrate the wisdom of a comment recently made by Senator George Mitchell, who played such a pivotal role in bringing about peace on our island. Addressing the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, he said that implementing a peace agreement was as equally important and difficult as reaching agreement and that this fact was often lost in the euphoria of reaching agreement. Therefore, while appreciative of the many achievements of the peace process to date, we need to be very conscious that the job is not yet finished.

I strongly believe that the decade of centenaries we have now entered offers a real opportunity to make further progress, provided we act with a full and true sense of inclusiveness, parity of esteem, generosity and above all, respect and sensitivity to the celebration of the centenary events of those whose traditions, heritage and ambitions we do not share. If this approach can be applied on a mutual basis and if we can have a respectful and peaceful celebration of every tradition's centenaries, we will exit the decade with enhanced relationships and a better understanding of our shared history both within Northern Ireland and across the island as a whole. These immediate years could be regarded as testing what we have achieved to date. If we pass this test, I have no doubt that we will be on the cusp of a prolonged and sustainable peace on this island. What a prize this would be, something that has eluded every past generation. These centenaries have the potential to be the vehicle that will move us from a past characterised by two traditions and two communities to a future still characterised by two traditions - but by one community at peace. To achieve this we need an integrated approach by all, by Governments, institutions, associations, committees and individuals, to the celebration of every centenary, including those that some of us may feel uncomfortable with.

All over the island there is much good work being done. As the Minister said we got off to a good start with the peaceful celebration of the centenary of the Balmoral review held recently in the Ormeau Park in Belfast. I congratulate the organisers and all those who participated. The way this event was celebrated sets a good tone for those that will follow. I encourage all involved to keep going. There is more than ten years of hard but rewarding work ahead. As I said last June, this House can play an important role in promoting awareness of the sensitivities of these centenaries and in supporting those who will play critical roles in these celebrations. To that end, this House could usefully be briefed by the likes of the Orange Order, the chair of the Somme Association and by reputable historians who have a particular interest in the history of this period. In that regard, I commend the Leader on his intention to invite the Orange Order to this House. We look forward to engaging with them in the near future. If we have the insight and the sensitivity to engage confidently in this way with those who are pivotal to the success of the centenaries, this House will be in a strong position to make an important and distinct contribution to the success of the centenaries and consequently to the consolidation of the peace process and reconciliation between Unionist and Nationalist traditions on this island.