Taoiseach adds support for Community Relations Week

24th April 2006

Taoiseach adds support for Community Relations Week

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has added his support for the work that goes on year-round to build a shared future for Northern Ireland. Mr Ahern is backing the Community Relations Council's Community Relations Week, which begins today (Monday April 24). The week, which features more than 150 events across Northern Ireland, has already received endorsement from Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Special Envoy the Northern Ireland Peace Process, Mitchell Reiss.

Adding his support, the Taoiseach said: "The current year will be a decisive year for the peace process.  At a time when the two Governments have outlined their plans to move forward the political landscape in Northern Ireland, the work being done on the ground to rebuild trust and foster good community relations has never been more important”.

”For this reason, I am delighted to give my support to Community Relations Week and, on behalf of the Irish Government, to express my appreciation and gratitude to the Community Relations Council and to the many other dedicated individuals from the community and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland who make such an outstanding contribution to the promotion of tolerance, mutual respect, and reconciliation.  

”I am all too aware that the important work of building community relations is often carried out in difficult and challenging circumstances. I hope that the coming week of activities will highlight the courage and commitment displayed by the many individuals and organisations working to bring about positive change in communities right across Northern Ireland and will serve to inspire others to join in this vital work in the future.

”I wish all those involved in Community Relations Week every success over the coming seven days and in the future."

Speaking about Community Relations Week, Prime Minister Blair said that it is an important opportunity to recognise work to repair division. “Nothing is more important in Northern Ireland than repairing the divisions of the past and building trust between the communities,” he said. “I am delighted to have this opportunity to express my support and gratitude to those in all communities who work so hard to achieve that end.”

“Community Relations Week in particular gives us a chance to recognise the long  term contribution of the Community Relations Council and thank them for the commitment they have shown down through the years, in good times and bad,” Mr Blair continued.

“But it is equally important for me to include the work of the many dedicated people from the community and voluntary sector in this message.  It is they who make a real difference at a local level, week in, week out.

“I hope this week's events will not just show the wide range of activities that go on at a community level, but also encourage many more people to become part of building a new civic society.

“As with everyone who is part of Community Relations Week I believe in a vision for a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, stable and fair society in Northern Ireland, a society founded on partnership, equality and mutual respect,” Mr Blair added.

Mr Reiss said: “Throughout my visits to Northern Ireland, I have been impressed by the tireless commitment of ordinary men and women who are dedicated to building pluralism and tolerance in the region. It is often the 'unsung heroes' who make the most positive contribution in any thriving, confident society.

“Many in Northern Ireland have taken risks to challenge sectarian behaviour, plan an integrated school, reach out along a peace-line, or commit to small acts of daily courage. So, I am delighted to support Community Relations Week as an opportunity to showcase achievements to date and to collectively seek creative ways to build on this remarkable progress,” Mr Reiss continued.

“I applaud the continued work of the Community Relations Council in helping to build trust and confidence among communities, and I wish every success to all involved in events in the week,” he added.

Thousands of people across Northern Ireland will participate in Community Relations Week. Events, across all six counties, include the launch of to tackle issues of flags and sectional symbols, a major policy conference organised by CRC to look at the current status of the government's 'A Shared Future' document, an SDLP conference to look at tackling racism and sectarianism, an event by the Ulster Unionist Party to celebrate the diversity of society in Northern Ireland and an event organised by the Youth Council to mark the contribution of young people to the building of a shared future.

Other events include an exhibition of photographs taken by young people working together across the Fountain/Riverview interface in L'Derry and a cultural awareness conference in Fermanagh organised by Fermanagh District Council, the Fermanagh Churches Forum and the Women of the World group.

END

Media contact:

Chris Harrison, Dorothy Hawe or Kathryn Anderson, JPR: 028 9076 0066, 077 6641 7550 or chris.harrison@jprni.com

Notes to editor:

 

• The Community Relations Council, established as a registered charity in 1990, aims to build greater trust and understanding between communities in Northern Ireland across the political, cultural and religious divide.

• Community Relations Week, now in its fifth year, has grown in strength and stature each year that it has taken place.

GO_BACK