Speech
Keynote address by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the second Shared Island Forum
From Department of the Taoiseach
By: Taoiseach; Micheál Martin
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
By: Taoiseach; Micheál Martin
Published on
Last updated on
Dublin Castle, 5 December 2022
Check against delivery
Thank you, Shane.
Tá ríméad orm an dara Fóram um Oilean Comhroinnte de chuid an Rialtais a óstáil inniu.
Is iontach an rud é gur féidir linn teacht le chéile mar seo, agus tuilleadh daoine linn ar-líne ó fud fad an oileáin seo, sa Bhreatain agus níos faide i gcéin.
It is fitting that we gather here at St. Patrick’s Hall in Dublin Castle.
A place that resonates with centuries of Ireland’s complex political history and connections with Britain.
And the site also of pivotal moments in the reshaping and repairing of those relationships, and in the modernisation of Ireland in recent decades.
Part of a story of building a more prosperous, inclusive and confident society.
A society where we do not shy away from, or obscure, what still has to be done to achieve a truly reconciled island - for people of all traditions and communities who call it home.
We are here today to look to the future in an open, honest, positive way.
At actions that will enhance this wonderful island that we share, and bring people North and South closer together, in real terms.
We look forward, conscious of our centenary and more recent history, which was too often marred by division and conflict.
But a history that reveals also a golden thread of democratic progress; that illustrates and should inspire us on what can be achieved:
- 100 years ago, this week:
This State formally came into being;
The tragedy of partition was confirmed;
And the Civil War entered one of its darkest phases.
Momentous events that would take decades for society, on both parts of this island, to accommodate.
Landmarks in an uneven but steadfast journey of national realisation and understanding.
- And, 50 years ago, the most violent year of the Troubles was drawing to a dark close.
1972 saw almost 500 people killed in Belfast, Derry and across Northern Ireland, as well as in paramilitary bombings in Dublin and Belturbet in Cavan.
Callous crimes and acts of violence which would destructively continue for nearly three more decades. Brutally taking lives and afflicting families, North and South, and in Britain.
Actions that were always abhorred and repeatedly politically rejected by the vast majority of people all across the island.
Violence that has left a legacy of trauma, pain and mistrust in communities today, which we need to do far more, collectively, to address and try to ease.
But, 1972 was also the year when Ireland’s membership of the European Economic Community was confirmed.
Another definitive step in national realisation, prepared by successive Irish Governments and resolutely approved by the people.
A European Membership that has been, and remains, fundamental to Ireland’s economic and social progress; and to the achievement and consolidation of peace in Northern Ireland.
- And 25 years ago, today, the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation held its last meeting, here in Dublin Castle.
The Forum was one part of years of determined steps taken by the Irish and British Governments together;
Working with brave, visionary leaders in Northern Ireland like David Trimble and John Hume;
And brave, mould-breaking women like May Blood and Monica McWilliams:
- To end the destructive cycle of violence;
- Build consensus around a re-framing of our political and civic relationships;
- And focus on working in our very substantial common interests on this island.
Historic leadership with an unbreakable will to win peace, that would lead to the Good Friday Agreement.
An accord that was a proclamation and a vision for the island of Ireland; overwhelmingly endorsed by the people, North and South, in May 1998.
And - notwithstanding the challenges and frustrations - that democratic support for the Agreement has been reflected and reaffirmed in every election held on this island since.
The Good Friday Agreement provided a new political dispensation for our inter-connected relationships, in Northern Ireland, North/South and East/West;
Enabling all communities on both parts of this island to flourish;
And, to undertake a journey of reconciliation of our different equally-legitimate aspirations; of the nationalist, unionist and other political traditions on this island.
As John Hume said, the Agreement cannot take away the pain, but it is the start of the healing process.
"We do not know where this will take us and how quickly it will proceed but we know it is the best possible way to treat the wounds and divisions of centuries past.”
- And so we stand now, having forged a profoundly difficult but ultimately sustainable and successful way on this island:
Going far beyond grudging acceptance of our different identities and the path of history.
To a willing combination of our diversity in common cause through the Good Friday Agreement.
As a result, a generation of young people has grown up and come of age in peace on this island, with a lived experience that can transcend the divisions of the past.
But clearly today, there are also very real challenges:
- The democratic mandate given by the people of Northern Ireland in Assembly elections last May is still being unacceptably denied; the power-sharing Executive and North South Ministerial Council are not functioning at a time when they are acutely needed;
- The outworkings of Brexit, more than six years on, continue to strain political and community interactions in Northern Ireland; hinder North/South and Ireland-UK relationships;
- And, we have to be clear too that - while there has been hugely important progress - the immense potential of the Good Friday Agreement to bring people on this island together has not yet been delivered.
There remain degrees of separation both in Northern Ireland and between North and South.
We see it in our politics, communities and cultures; our media, social media and mindsets.
In the concerted attempts to glorify, justify or minimise the disastrous bloodshed of the Troubles - which must not succeed;
And in the appalling, often mindless, abuse of others’ cultural identity, experience or trauma - something that people of all ages and backgrounds should recognise and move beyond;
And we see it in an unnecessary, unwinnable identity politics; which ignores and obstructs the full pursuit of our common interests.
Impeding the achievement of the reconciled future, that is in everyone’s interests on this island - Irish, British, both and neither.
That is why, with whole of government support, I established the Shared Island initiative, over two years ago.
- To unlock the potential of the Good Friday Agreement and deepen cooperation and connections across borders and communities;
- Deliver a step change in what we achieve through North/South and East/West partnerships;
- And, engage with all communities and traditions on the island to build a vision for our shared future.
This is an inclusive, constructive approach, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Recognising that the provisions on constitutional change and the principle of consent do not stand apart from the rest of the Agreement.
The Good Friday Agreement is a dynamic framework of institutions, principles, and rights.
We take the next steps in our collective journey, by working the Agreement in all dimensions.
There is no pre-ordained outcome.
Our actions today North and South, will shape what follows; what kind of future is possible.
This government is taking sincere, ambitious, sustained action now to enable the best prospects for our shared future on this island - however it may be constituted.
Our Shared Island initiative involves:
- Investing and cooperating to enhance the whole island: supported through our €1 billion Shared Island Fund;
- Listening to all communities: through the Shared Island Dialogue series and other engagements to hear people’s ideas, expectations, fears and hopes for the future;
And,
- Better understanding the island: With a programme of published research, that considers our economic, social, cultural and political connections today; and where they could go to in the years ahead, for mutual gain.
This is a whole-of-government priority. And a whole-of-society endeavor.
Le ceisteanna a chur faoi na sainspéiseanna atá i gcoiteann againn agus an t-idirspleáchas eadrainn.
Agus le freagraí agus gníomhartha a múnlú i gcomhpháirtíocht le gach pobal; le comhdhearcadh a thógáil faoin gcaoi a chomhroinnimid an tOileán seo.
Over the last two years, the government has allocated over €140 million from our Shared Island Fund.
To forge ahead with the Ulster Canal and Narrow Water Bridge projects. Major sustainable tourism and connectivity assets for the central and east border regions, that have been talked about for decades.
Projects that exemplify the benefits and power of all-island cooperation.
And, at the end of October, with counterparts in the Executive and UK Government, we agreed a new collective investment of €74 million - to create new Co-Centres for Research and Innovation on Climate and Food Sustainability issues.
We are ready to do far more with a new Northern Ireland Executive and with the UK Government - to invest collaboratively, in new ways, and at unprecedented scale.
Our goal is to create a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island, for all communities.
The government has also commenced a series of innovative all-island programmes, resourced through the Shared Island Fund, which bring people together in common cause:
This is what action on a shared future looks like; and it is just the beginning.
Today, I am delighted to announce a further €50 million in commitments from the Shared Island Fund for new investment and cooperation.
Taken forward by our departments and agencies on a cooperative, partnership basis with Northern Ireland and UK counterparts over the next three years.
To develop more dynamic linkages between these world-renowned tourism brands; helping to achieve longer visitor stays and greater economic benefits for the North West and Northern coast regions.
And, we are committing €12 million for development of a new innovation hub in the North West next year. To take up the real untapped potential of deeper cross-border enterprise links.
In addition, the government is moving forward with a further suite of all-island funding programmes.
Investing in people, North and South, so that they can work together, as they are ready to, on our common interests for the future:
Given the success and impact of the North South Research Programme, we’ve allocated a further €10 million from the Shared Island Fund, for the second call to commence next year. Supporting more strategic institutional connections in higher education across the island.
And we will shortly be announcing a new Shared Island civic society fund under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs, with a contribution of €2 million from the Shared Island Fund over three years.
This responds to the need - identified through the Shared Island Dialogue series - to provide more support to civic and community organisations to develop cross-border partnerships.
The government has also committed up to €8 million for a major Shared Island dimension to the Creative Ireland Programme and for other cultural interactions on the island over the next three years:
To harness the power of culture and creativity to inspire connections between people, communities and places.
And to foster greater appreciation and enjoyment of the diverse linguistic and cultural heritage of the whole island, including the Ulster Scots and Irish traditions.
We will see a performance later this morning that will affirm just how rich is the cultural exchange between these sister traditions; and how much more we should explore and celebrate that.
Far too often in our history, cultural difference has been used to try to mark communities apart;
But what we are doing now is working to foster an island of cultural confidence, respect, generosity and exchange.
And the greater ethnic and cultural diversity of our towns and cities today, both North and South, help to make those interactions so much broader-based, dynamic and vibrant.
As Nandi Jola - writer and first Poet in Residence in County Armagh - has so eloquently written, “we are one race, of many colours, many voices, many dreams”.
I, the Tánaiste, Minister Ryan and all our government colleagues decided at Cabinet last week to support these seven major, new Shared Island funded initiatives.
And - lest there be any doubt - we will continue in the years to come to collaboratively develop and take forward major new investment and cooperation projects, that build a shared island.
Bringing unprecedented ambition and innovation to cooperative all-island action.
We have mandated that all departments will contribute to this work;
To help release the potential that is there across all sectors and regions.
Among the Shared Island priorities that we have set for 2023 are:
And, we want to push on and deliver all of the cross-border investment commitments under the New Decade, New Approach agreement.
Across all areas, the scale, impact and timing of what can be achieved will be explored and shaped with our counterparts in Northern Ireland and the UK Government.
There are so many important reasons why a new Executive is urgently needed, to act in the interests of all of the people of Northern Ireland;
The collaborative investment programme of the Shared Island Fund is one more.
The devolved power-sharing institutions are at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement.
Symbolising the new Northern Ireland that people across all communities affirmed in 1998;
And critical in meeting the needs and expectations of the people of Northern Ireland today.
The Assembly and Executive cannot sustainably be held hostage by any political party.
The government will do everything that we can, working closely with the UK Government as co-guarantor of the Agreement, with all of the party leaders in Northern Ireland, to get the power-sharing institutions in place again without delay.
Progress in the EU-UK negotiations on the Protocol is urgent. And as President Von der Leyen said last week in her address to the Joint Houses of the Oireachtas, by applying common sense and focusing on the issues that really matter in Northern Ireland, progress can be made.
Political leaders need to give honest and resolute leadership, in the face of the tiny numbers that would seek to reject any accommodation, or even try to drag us back to the past.
As we approach the 25th year of the Good Friday Agreement, it is an utmost political responsibility to safeguard our transformational democratic accord;
Invigorating all of the relationships in the Agreement; to win another generation of peace and progress for all communities.
And the other elements of our Shared Island initiative are all about looking forward and listening to people, on how we shape that peaceful, prosperous, promising future.
Over the last two years, the Shared Island unit in my department has commissioned and published a stream of high-quality research.
Including ground-breaking reports by the Economic and Social Research Institute examining our Education, Health, Enterprise and Renewable Energy systems; and looking at Early Childhood Care and at Migrant experiences, North and South.
Research that helps us better understand what it means to live here today, and how we could enhance that experience by together ‘thinking island’.
And in April, the National Economic and Social Council produced its first-ever report on the opportunities, and difficulties, of cross-border cooperation across a range of sectors.
The Council’s recommendations illuminate how the government, working with a new Executive and the UK Government - could bring all-island investment and policy cooperation to a new level.
We will keep working to build the consensus and co-ownership needed to do that.
So, that as governments we work together not just on what’s already agreed, or easy to do;
But on the major common concerns for our people.
And over the last two years, the Shared Island Dialogue series - across 14 events and with participation by more than 2,500 civic representatives - has confirmed the broad support there is for more ambitious action and interaction right across this island.
To help meet common goals on climate change, healthcare, education and the economy.
And to better reflect how our people and communities are connected: in culture and the arts; sports; enterprise and social enterprise; and in the achievement of greater equality.
As I’ve said before, people, generally, are far ahead of the politics of the Peace Process.
They know well that we can transform how we work in every single sector on this island, without in any way compromising our different beliefs and aspirations.
The message came through from people time and time again this year, at Shared Island events, in Monaghan, Derry, Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Cavan and Meath:
To recall Martin Luther King - the arc of change on this island bends towards reconciliation.
These have been inspiring and thought-provoking engagements for me and my government colleagues.
Directly informing how we develop new investment, policy and cooperation.
Set apart from the contested political space, the Dialogues have proved to be open, informed, constructive discussions of where we’re really at on this island.
Through them we see an inspiring civic commitment - across all regions, backgrounds and traditions - to play an active part in forging a better shared future for all on this island.
A people’s message of conviction, determination and know-how that is, rightly, ambitious and optimistic, for what we can achieve together in the years ahead.
One hundred years ago, no one could have anticipated the course for society on this island.
A weaving of circumstances, actions and reactions;
That would test the fabric of our communities; our very ability to co-exist.
But ultimately prove our capacity and democratic will to prevail and progress together.
The fact is, nobody knows how our shared island will be configured in 25 or 50 years’ time.
But we do know the lessons of the century past;
And the transformative peace achieved and affirmed since 1998.
The question now is will we take the next step as people together on this island?
I have no doubt that the people’s answer is a resounding yes.
Thank you.