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16 January 2008

‘Without a practical and detailed peace plan’, according to CRC Chief Executive Duncan Morrow, ‘the Programme for Government risks returning Northern Ireland to a culture of public denial and avoidance about sectarianism, discrimination and now racism’.

PRESS RELEASE

15 January 2008

Programme for Government

Dr Morrow was commenting on the Council’s official response to the Executive’s draft Programme for Government which ended its public consultation last week.

‘While prosperity and a flourishing economy are highly desirable goals, they will not be achieved unless there is also a cross-governmental programme translating our real political progress into a shared future for all. Building a sustainable peace is not just a matter of party co-operation or of local action. It requires concerted government action across ALL Departmental areas, including Justice, Economic Development, Social Development, Education and Culture.’

In its 8-page response the Council welcomed the draft Programme’s commitment to developing an open and flourishing economy. However it points out that spreading prosperity depends on embedding lasting social stability. The Council quotes U.S. Senator George Mitchell that Northern Ireland is a deeply divided society. In the Council’s view sustainable peace will require years of focussed work and the Assembly must set the direction towards the development of a normal civic society. The Assembly must lead in this and not appear to leave peace-building to external investors to tackle via the EU Peace III Programme.

Almost ten years after the Belfast Agreement, the Council points out, sectarianism and racism continue to have a corrosive effect in Northern Ireland. None of this can be eradicated without concerted and joined up action. While the draft Programme refers to continuing efforts to address division, what is needed is the inclusion of Key Goals to detail how central government will achieve the objective of tackling historical divisions and new challenges.

Much progress has been made, says the Council. But ‘We cannot afford to drift back into pretence that our divisions are normal, will simply disappear or have no relevance to social, economic and justice goals’.

The Council’s full response can be obtained from its website www.nicrc.org.uk

For further information contact

Ray Mullan, CRC Director of Communications

Tel 90-227500 or email: rmullan@nicrc.org.uk