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15 December 2008

‘Peace is an economic issue. The drive to prosperity is not an alternative to addressing division- the two must be tackled together.’ This is one of the lessons drawn by Duncan Morrow, Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council, in the Council’s Annual Review which is launched today (Monday 15 December).

Another lesson is that ‘Equality and Good Relations should not be presented as rivals, but rather as partners.’

Entitled ‘Truce or Transformation’ the Annual Review seeks to draw lessons from community relations work since 2007. Although acknowledging the positive imagery of partnership in government  the Review questions the commitment to challenging the deep divisions and polarisation in Northern Ireland. The continued absence of the new government policy on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration which was to replace ‘A Shared Future’ is regretted. ‘The challenge of the establishment of agreed political institutions,’ according to Duncan Morrow, ‘is whether this is another truce or a step towards transformation.’

Last year the Council supported 705 community relations projects with funding from OFMDFM, Peace II and IFI.  In partnership with others it has also helped to develop pilot programmes in shared housing and shared education.  It also supported local planning projects in Belfast and Derry to develop shared public spaces.  According to Duncan Morrow ‘these projects demonstrate that change towards a shared society is not only desirable but plausible.’

The Review is being launched from the Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast, at 11.30 am  on Monday 15 December.  Copies are available from CRC, tel 90-227500.

For further information contact

Ray Mullan

rmullan@nicrc.org.uk