Written answers

Wednesday, 1 March 2023

Department of An Taoiseach

Cross-Border Co-operation

Photo of Ivana BacikIvana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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33. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the latest shared island dialogue initiatives. [9680/23]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Inclusive dialogue with all communities and political traditions is central to the Government’s Shared Island approach as set out in the Programme for Government and will continue this year.

14 dialogues have been held to date, convened at Government level and engaging with more than 2,500 citizens and civic representatives, on how we can work for a shared future on the island in practical, meaningful ways.

The most recent dialogue was on 4 November, convened by Minister Helen McEntee TD, on tackling gender-based violence and abuse across the island. Alliance Party leader and former Northern Ireland Minister for Justice, Naomi Long MLA also participated, together with representatives of over 100 civic organisations from North and South. A report and recording of the dialogue was published on 16 February, available at www.gov.ie/sharedisland.

In January, the Shared Island unit surveyed participants in the dialogues to date seeking views on what has worked so far, what could be improved, and what issues are of interest for people across different communities to discuss on a shared island basis. Taking account of this feedback, new formats and themes will be introduced for Shared Island dialogue events through this year.

On 6 March, the unit is co-hosting an in-person and online launch event with the Economic and Social Research Institute for the publication of the latest ESRI Shared Island research report which examines migrant integration and experiences, North and South.

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