A truly Shared Island must leave no-one behind
Shared Island Dialogues to be welcomed, but will be judged on results
Statement by The Community Foundation for Ireland
Commitments to give young people, women and new communities stronger voices in the Shared Island dialogues announced by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, are to be welcomed, according to The Community Foundation for Ireland.
Responding to the address The Foundation said a truly Shared Island will leave no-one behind.
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland added:
“In his address the Taoiseach acknowledged that in the past not all voices were listened to when deciding the future course for our island.
His commitment to correct this by listening to the voices of young people, women and new communities are to be welcomed. The acknowledgement that the voices of the 1.3 million people born on the island in the 21-years since the Good Friday Agreement must be listen to is a key development.
A strong community and civic society input, where no-one is left behind, is the only way to ensure the success of the Shared Island approach. On both sides of the border it is community groups who are in the frontline in supporting the vulnerable and the disadvantaged.
The Community Foundation for Ireland, and its donors who have provided over €60 million to communities in the past 20-years, is ready to support engagement with people, communities and groups who in the past were forgotten, left behind or whose views were brushed aside.”