Shared Island Dialogue

Inclusive dialogue with all communities and political traditions is central to the government’s Shared Island approach.

The Shared Island Dialogue series has brought together more than 3,500 citizens and civic representatives to discuss how cooperation and interaction can help address challenges and take up opportunities that concern and connect the whole island.

The Dialogue series has sought to include as broad a range of experience and perspectives as possible, particularly those voices underrepresented in the Peace Process - women, young people and ethnic minority communities on the island.

The engagement is informing how the government, working with our counterparts and civil society partners, develops and delivers the Shared Island initiative.

The Shared Island Initiative Report 2023 – Action on a Shared Future sets out the third year of the Shared Island Initiative, and how the Government has taken forward its commitment to engage with all communities and traditions to build a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The report was published on 8 February 2024.

A report on the second year of the Shared Island Initiative was published in December 2022, and captures the key points from the Shared Island Dialogue discussions.

A report on the first year of the Shared Island Dialogue series was published in December 2021, and captures the key points from the Shared Island Dialogue discussions.

Over 300 political, civil society and cultural representatives from North and South participated in a Shared Island Dialogue on Accommodating national identities in October 2023, held at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.

The Dialogue was moderated by Miriam O’Callaghan, RTÉ, and featured two panel discussions.

Then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, delivering the keynote address.

Co-Director of the Abbey Theatre, Mark O’Brien, delivered the opening address.

Broadcaster, John Toal delivered a personal reflection on identity on the island.

The first session explored the diverse national identities on the island and how and where these have been well-accommodated, and how and where not, in different areas of society, North and South.

Watch session 1: Reflections on national identity on the island of Ireland

The second session looked look at how national identities have changed over recent decades, and what actions could make the island more accommodating of national identity diversity.

Watch session 2: What does a truer accommodation of national diversity require?

A report will be made available soon setting out the main themes and issues raised at the Dialogue to help inform further development of the government’s Shared Island initiative and as a contribution to broader discussion on how we share the island of Ireland, today and into the future.

The Dialogue video summary and report below set out the main themes and issues raised.

The Dialogue was moderated by Professor Anne Looney, Executive Dean, Dublin City University’s Institute of Education, with contributions from leading figures in the education sector, North and South.

The first panel considered achievements and shortcomings of educations systems in bringing communities together over the last 25 years, and asked what does a no change scenario in education systems mean for a shared island in 20 years’ time?

A second session heard younger generation views on the education systems North and South.

The third panel looked at what a more ambitious approach to connecting communities through education look requires in politics, communities and schools?

A final panel heard from political representatives reflecting on the discussions from the day.

The Dialogue video summary and report set out the main themes and issues raised.

Over 150 civil society representatives, including journalists, media organisations, academics, government and political representatives from North and South participated in a Shared Island Dialogue on Media representation of the island of Ireland on 24 April 2023, held at the Convention Centre, Dublin.

The Dialogue was moderated by Kevin Rafter, Full Professor of Political Communications at Dublin City University, and featured two panel discussions.

The first session explored the successes and shortcomings of media representation of the island of Ireland; how different communities, regions, and political and social issues are presented in media and social media; and how this influences political and public debates.

The second session looked at the media sector across the island, in particular the current position and the potential for development of deeper cross-border networks, organisation and collaboration in news and other media, looking both North/South and East/West.

The below report sets out the main themes and issues raised at the Dialogue to help inform further development of the government’s Shared Island initiative and as a contribution to broader discussion on how we share the island of Ireland, today and into the future.

Over 100 people took part in a hybrid Shared Island Dialogue, ‘Tackling Gender Based Violence and Abuse’.

Victim and survivor support organisations, government and political representatives North and South, as well as research and legal practitioners came together in Eureka House, Kells to discuss how to tackle gender-based violence and abuse on the island of Ireland.

Then Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Alliance Party leader and Minister for Justice in Northern Ireland Naomi Long MLA delivered the opening address at the fourth regional Dialogue in 2022.

Watch: Panel 1: Prevention and changing societal attitudes

Watch: Panel 2: Supporting the victim

Over 200 people took part in a hybrid Shared Island Dialogue, ‘Arts and Culture on a Shared Island.’

Artists, musicians, writers, members of cultural and creative community organisations, and government agencies North and South, came together in Mandela Hall, Queen’s University, Belfast to discuss shared challenges and opportunities facing the arts and cultural sector across the island.

Then Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and former Northern Ireland Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey MLA, delivered the opening address at the third regional Dialogue in 2022.

Watch: Panel 1: Arts & Culture on a Shared Island

Watch: Panel 2: Building Cultural and Creative Communities

Watch: Arts and Culture on a Shared Island

Watch: Performance by Lore

Over 150 people took part in a hybrid Shared Island Dialogue, ‘Identities on a Shared Island – new generation views’.

Young people from across all communities, regions, identities and backgrounds, North and South, came together in St. Columb’s Hall in Derry to discuss what identity - cultural identity, race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and ability – on a shared island looks like.

Then Taoiseach Michaél Martin delivered the opening address at the second regional Dialogue in 2022.

Watch: Panel 1: Cultural identities on a shared island - can we move from acceptance to celebration?

Watch: Panel 2: Personal identities - better representing diverse identities on the island of Ireland.

Over 200 people took part in a hybrid Shared Island Dialogue, ‘Enabling Rural and Community Development on a Shared Island’

Rural and community groups, business organisations, social enterprise coordinators and government agencies North and South came together in Drumhowan, Co. Monaghan to discuss linkages and cooperation in rural and community development on the island of Ireland.

Then Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys delivered the opening address which is the first of the regional Dialogues in 2022.

In a guest address from Mary McKenna MBE, Serial Tech Entrepreneur, Angel Investor and Awaken Hub co-founder outlined opportunities for social enterprises to collaborate with state agencies to look to the future with the next generation of entrepreneurs with a focus of digitisation and creating a network of hubs as the future of working.

Watch: Panel 1: Social Enterprise for Thriving Rural Communities

Watch: Panel 2: Transformational Potential of Rural Hubs

Over 100 people took part in a hybrid Shared Island Dialogue on – Breaking down barriers and tackling shared challenges: Sport cooperation on the island.

Current and former sports stars, sports organisations, clubs, community groups and health and wellbeing professionals came together to examine the role that sport plays in building and improving community relations, and discussed how to enhance cooperation through sport across the island.

The then Minister for Sport Jack Chambers delivered the opening address.

To view the Q&A with Minister Chamber’s click here.

In a guest address, Former World Featherweight Champion, Barry McGuigan, outlined how boxing reflects trust, loyalty, respect, discipline, and empathy, which he described as the core values at the heart of building strong relationships in the community.

Watch: Panel 1: Building Community Relations through Sport.

Watch: Panel 2: Tackling the fall in Youth Participation in Sport – what to do?

Then Minister for Sport, Jack Chambers closing the Dialogue session.

Over 160 people took part online in the Shared Island Dialogue on - Tourism on the shared island: Building on past success to create a sustainable future.

The Dialogue brought together tourism agencies, organisations, interest groups and civil society stakeholders, from North and South, to examine the success of tourism cooperation on the island of Ireland and explore how best to enhance opportunities for domestic and international visitors in the years ahead.

Then Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, delivered the opening address on behalf of the government for the Dialogue session on Tourism.

To view the full address click here.

In a guest address, Dr Howard Hastings OBE, Chairman of Hastings Hotels outlined the opportunities he sees for further cooperation North and South to boost tourism across the island.

Watch: Panel 1: 20 Years of tourism cooperation on the island.

Watch: Panel 2: Looking to the future of tourism on the island.

Over 130 people took part online in the Shared Island Dialogue on Education – Learning from each other: The future of education on a shared island, on 1 October 2021.

The Dialogue brought together education and civil society stakeholders, from North and South, to discuss opportunities, as well as challenges, for deeper cooperation on the island across a range of education, higher and further education, skills and research areas.

Then Minister for Education, Norma Foley, delivered the opening address on behalf of the government for the Dialogue session on Primary and Post-Primary Education.

Discussions in this session focused on innovative connections by young people on the island and on addressing educational underachievement.

Watch: Shared Island In-Depth View Panel Discussion on Innovative connections on a shared island.

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Addressing educational underachievement on the island.

Current all-island cooperation on education, including the Middletown Centre for Autism, was also highlighted in this session.

Then Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, opened the Dialogue session on higher and further education and research.

The session considered education accessibility issues and matching skills needs with opportunities across the island.

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Enhancing education accessibility on a shared island.

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Matching skills needs with opportunities across the island.

Collaboration by researchers on a North/South basis was also highlighted.

Over 120 people took part in the online Shared Island Dialogue on Health – Working together for a healthier island on 8 July 2021.

Patient representatives, advocates, clinicians, practitioners and other health sector stakeholders came together to share their perspectives on cross-border cooperation in the sector and on how this can be developed further.

Then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, gave the opening address.

Attendees heard about the real-life impact of cross-border cooperation in healthcare from patients who have benefitted from cancer treatment at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, and paediatric cardiac care at Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin. The life-saving cooperation between ambulance services North and South was also highlighted.

The Dialogue featured three panel discussions on the future of public health cooperation on the island; approaches for developing and delivering cross-border health initiatives; and opportunities for impactful cooperation on mental health and suicide prevention on the island.

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Public health cooperation on the island

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Approaches to future health cooperation on the island

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Improving mental health outcomes – shared vision for a healthier future

Then Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar opened the Shared Island Dialogue on the all-island economy.

140 people involved in business, enterprise and innovation took part in the online event which examined the economic opportunities and challenges facing the island. There was a strong focus on skills and innovation, boosting the economy post pandemic and the potential for growing cross border trade in goods and services.

The Dialogue also included a discussion with the Tánaiste, which was followed by a contribution from former Irish rugby international and businessman Tommy Bowe.

Three moderated panel discussions examined opportunities for enhanced cross-border business links, more mutually-beneficial economic cooperation and coordinated investment on the island, as well as Northern Ireland’s unique economic opportunities post-Brexit, and heard from three of the next generation of entrepreneurs on the island.

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Supporting enterprise and trade on a shared Island

Watch: Shared Island In-Depth View: Next generation entrepreneurs on the island

Watch: Shared Island Panel Discussion on Untapped potential of the all-island economy

More than 100 equality and inclusivity activists, campaigners and representative groups from across all communities and traditions on the island took part in the online dialogue which considered the Equality provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and current progress of the equality and rights agenda, exploring key issues for achieving inclusivity and equality on the island, including in representation in public life, across themes of gender, sexuality, ethnicity and ability.

Then Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman opened the Dialogue at Dublin Castle.

The Dialogue also included a discussion with Minister O’Gorman, which was followed by a contribution from inclusivity campaigner and CEO of Tilting the Lens Sinéad Burke.

Three moderated panel discussions included participation from contributors representing a wide range of perspectives, experience and cultural, ethnic, gender, sexuality and ability identities, from across the island.

Watch the Shared Island Dialogue panel discussion on “Equality agenda on the island”

Watch the Shared Island panel discussion on “Inclusive representation on the island”

Watch the Shared Island panel discussion on “Creating an island of equals”

Over 140 participants from across the island of Ireland joined this online dialogue to consider the role of civil society cooperation in addressing shared challenges on the island now and in the years ahead and explore ways in which civil society could engage and work together more on the island, with North/South and East/West dimensions, on a shared future.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney participated in the Dialogue for the government.

The Dialogue included an interactive discussion with Minister Coveney and contribution by award-winning actor and former Chancellor of Ulster University, James Nesbitt, on civil society leadership on the island.

There were two moderated panel discussions as part of the Dialogue, with participation by representatives representing a range of communities and traditions on the island.

Watch the Shared Island Dialogue panel discussion on “the role of civil society in building connections and commonality of purpose on shared challenges”.

Watch the Shared Island panel discussion on “civil society experience in recent years in building consensus or better understanding on complex social and cultural issues”.

More than 100 participants joined this online dialogue, including civil society groups, business and agriculture representatives, academic and research experts, local authorities and environmental and sustainable development agencies.

Then Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan participated on behalf of the Government, delivering the opening address.

In the dialogue, Dr Jeanne Moore presented a draft paper by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) Secretariat for consultation on “Shared Island Consultation: Climate and Biodiversity Challenges and Opportunities” as part of the work on Shared Island that NESC is undertaking in 2021. Further information on this consultation, including how to contribute, is available on the NESC website.

Award winning author, naturalist and environmental campaigner, Dara McAnulty set the tone for discussion on the day with his specially written poem 'Invisible Lines' for the event.

You can see more of the discussions at the Dialogue using the links below:

Watch Dr Jeanne Moore, Policy Analyst, NESC, present a draft paper by the NESC Secretariat for consultation on “Shared Island Consultation: Climate and Biodiversity Challenges and Opportunities”

Watch the Shared Island Dialogue panel discussion on “Tackling the Climate emergency - a Shared Island perspective”.

Watch the Shared Island panel discussion on “Addressing the Biodiversity crisis on the island”.

Watch the Shared Island panel discussion on “Future priorities for all-island cooperation on Environment”.

Over 80 young people from civic and community groups across the island joined online to discuss what a #SharedIsland means to them at the first Shared Island Dialogue on “New Generations and New Voices on the Good Friday Agreement”. Here’s what some of them had to say…

You can see more of the discussions at the Dialogue using the links below:

Watch the Taoiseach’s address welcoming participants to the first Shared Island Dialogue on ‘New Generations and New Voices on the Good Friday Agreement’

Watch the Shared Island Dialogue panel discussion on “Building understanding and connection on the island”.

Watch the Shared Island panel discussion on “Equality of Opportunity on a Shared Island”.