In February 2024, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D. delivered the keynote address at the 3rd Shared Island Forum, where he outlined the Government’s priorities and ambitious objectives for the Shared Island Initiative in 2024.
Read the full address here.
WATCH: Fireside chat here.
A report ‘Shared Island Initiative 2023 - Action on a Shared Future’ was also published by the Department of the Taoiseach setting out how the Government has over the last year taken forward its commitment to engage with all communities and traditions to build a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Shared Island Initiative Report 2023 - Action on a Shared Future
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Tuarascáil Thionscnamh Oileáin Comhroinnte 2023 - Beart maidir leis an Saol ata I nDan ar Oilean Comhroinnte
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The Government premiered a contemporary music, spoken word and dance performance curated and produced by Alan Gilsenan titled Shared Island Symphony.
Over 220 political, civic, community and economic stakeholders from across the island of Ireland was in attendance. The Forum features panel sessions on the Shared Island Youth Forum, projects supported by the Government’s Shared Island Fund, and on opportunities to cooperate on strategic challenges and opportunities for the island of Ireland in the years ahead.
The Shared Island initiative continues to engage with all communities to build consensus around a shared future and delivering benefits for the whole island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
The Government has so far allocated almost €500m from the Shared Island Fund, moving ahead with cross-border investment commitments and objectives, including Casement Park redevelopment, Narrow Water Bridge and other capital investment like Ulster University’s Derry campus, and commencing new all-island projects and programmes that respond to common interests and concerns for all communities. In addition, the Government has added a further €600m towards the upgrade of the A5, alongside confirmation of funding from other sources by the Department of Infrastructure Northern Ireland.
For more information on further Shared Island projects click here.
In December 2022, the then Taoiseach set out the government’s priorities for the next phase of the Shared Island initiative, at a Shared Island Forum, broadcast from at Dublin Castle.
The event looked at the progress of the Shared Island initiative so far and the ambitious programme of work for the year ahead to engage with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future.
A keynote address was delivered announcing a number of new cross-border and all-island investment and civic engagement projects, which will be supported through the Shared Island Fund, and delivered by government departments working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government and Local Authorities.
This announcement brings to over €190m allocated from the Shared Island Fund over the past two years, to deliver the Shared Island investment objectives in the Programme for Government and the revised National Development Plan 2021-30.
Read the full address here.
To view the Q&A click here.
The ‘Shared Island Initiative Report 2022 – Action on a Shared Future’ was published at the Forum, it sets out the second year of the Shared Island Initiative, and how the Government has taken forward its commitment to engage with all communities and traditions to build a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Shared Island Initiative 2022: Action on a Shared Future
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The North-West Cultural Partnership, Mairéad NÍ Mhaonaigh and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail delivered a powerful and thought-provoking performance, ‘Where Traditions Meet’. The performance was an exploration and a celebration of both Ulster Scots and Irish traditions.
A Forum panel discussion, “Shared Island initiative in action”, examined some of the specific investments and projects that have been part of this Shared Island agenda so far.
A second panel discussion, “Shared Island identities and meanings”, focusing both; on peoples cultural and national identity and other aspects that make up our identity like gender, sexuality, ability, socio-economic background etc.
Watch the full Shared Island Forum here.
In December 2021, the Taoiseach delivered the keynote address at the first Shared Island Forum, announcing a number of new cross-border and all-island investment and civic engagement projects, which will be supported through the Shared Island Fund, and delivered by government departments working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government and Local Authorities.
Patrick Kielty delivered a powerful and thought-provoking guest address outlining what a shared island means to him:
The Forum also saw the publication of “Looking to a shared future: Report on the Shared Island Dialogue series 2020-2021”, which captures the key points from the seven Shared Island Dialogue events which engaged more than 1,000 civic representatives and organisations from across all communities and traditions on the island.
A Forum panel discussion, “Engaging on a shared future”, examined cross-border and cross-community leadership by civil society on common concerns for the years ahead, North and South.
A second panel discussion, “Understanding our shared island”, focussed on the comprehensive research programme being progressed as part of the Shared Island initiative, with the National Economic and Social Council, ESRI, Irish Research Council and other partners. More information on these partnerships.
On 22 October 2020, the Taoiseach set out the government’s vision and priorities for the Shared Island initiative in an online address. Read the full speech here .