Minister McEntee in Belfast to meet political leaders and launch Reconciliation Fund Strategy

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, will travel to Belfast today, 9 March, for a series of engagements in Northern Ireland, including the launch of a new strategy for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Reconciliation Fund.

Minister McEntee will meet with the First and deputy First Ministers Michelle O’Neill MLA and Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, as well as DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP, SDLP leader Claire Hanna MP, UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA, and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long MLA.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Minister said: “I am looking forward to meeting the First and Deputy First Minister and many of the leaders of political parties today, as well as engaging with many of our community partners.

“Political leaders across these islands have been focused on dealing with the impacts of the events in the Middle East for the last ten days. I have been in ongoing contact with the Northern Ireland Executive, particularly in relation to supporting citizens caught up in the conflict. Our consular crisis centre in Dublin and our Embassies on the ground have also been coordinating closely with their UK counterparts. I will be taking the opportunity today to discuss if there is more we can do together to support all our citizens, whatever passports they hold.

“These meetings are also a valuable opportunity to update on our planning for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, including how we can engage and involve Northern Ireland in our Presidency outreach, for the benefit of people across this island.

“In all my meetings, I’ll be updating colleagues on the implementation of the Joint Framework to address the legacy of the Troubles and progress on the Shared Island Initiative. I had a constructive meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, in Dublin last month and I am confident that both governments are moving at pace to fulfil their commitments.”

Following these engagements, Minister McEntee will launch a new strategy for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Reconciliation Fund, a key tool for promoting reconciliation in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland since 1982.

The Minister said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity while in Belfast to launch our new strategy for my Department’s Reconciliation Fund, which has been so important for so long in supporting grassroots organisations promoting peace and reconciliation across these islands. The new strategy will guide our work in the years ahead, with a particular focus on how we support peacebuilding in partnership with a new generation. This year will see a 15 per cent increase in funding over 2025, reflecting the really strong partnerships that we’ve developed with civil society organisations from communities across Northern Ireland.”

ENDS

Press Office

9 March 2026