Press release
Irish Government contributes €20 million to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI)
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced today that the Irish Government will contribute a total of €20 million to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) over the next 4 years to support the work of the Fund’s ‘Connecting Communities’ Strategy.
The announcement was made by the Taoiseach at an event in Washington, D.C. this afternoon honouring the late John Hume. The Taoiseach also met with the Chair of the Fund, Paddy Harte, as part of the St. Patrick’s Day programme of events.
Announcing the Irish Government’s contribution to the Fund, the Taoiseach said:
"The International Fund for Ireland came into being as a result of strong bipartisan support from both President Reagan and Speaker Tip O’Neill with the guiding hand of the late John Hume. Over the past 35 years, the Fund has painstakingly built up trust with some of the most marginalised communities in Northern Ireland and in the 6 southern border counties.
"The Irish Government will continue to support the important work of the Fund as it implements its ‘Connecting Communities’ Strategy and will therefore contribute a total of €20 million over four years."
The Taoiseach added:
"The Fund is an outstanding example of a diaspora initiative,harnessing international solidarity and goodwill in support of lasting peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties, and making a real difference to the lives of people who have been directly affected by decades of political unrest and economic instability.
"It is important to all those who have benefited from the work of the Fund to know that their welfare and the future of their communities has been prioritised by the Governments of the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and by the European Union."
The International Fund for Ireland was established by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986, with support from the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Fund implements a number of programmes in Northern Ireland and in the southern border counties to tackle sectarianism and promote cross community and cross border relations with the aim of building a more peaceful society.
The IFI is now implementing a new ‘Connecting Communities’ Strategy for the period 2021– 2024. The Strategy aims to assist the Irish and British Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive in their efforts to consolidate the Peace Process, by continuing to tackle some of the most significant remaining challenges to a lasting peace, with a particular focus on young people.