Press release
Shared Island Dialogue to examine identities on the island
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Young people from across all communities, regions, identities and backgrounds, North and South, are coming together in St. Columb’s Hall in Derry tomorrow (28 June 2022) for the next Shared Island Dialogue, Identities on a Shared Island – new generation views.
This is the eleventh event in the Shared Island Dialogue series, which aims to foster constructive and inclusive civic dialogue with all communities and traditions on a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will deliver an online opening address to participants.
Speaking ahead of the event the Taoiseach said:
“We have seen profound, positive changes in recent decades on how we address national, cultural and personal identity, and we need to sustain that in the time ahead.
“Acknowledgement of the legitimate diversity of identities on this island was critical to reaching the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Since then, we have created the space to not just acknowledge, but to fully harness and genuinely celebrate our different identities in arts and culture, in our schools, colleges and universities, in sports clubs and community halls and in our laws, politics and media.
“The views and actions of young people will be fundamental to how that space is used in the years ahead. I am sure that the Shared Island Dialogue on Identity will see inspiring contributions and commitment by young people to this most important dimension of how we build a shared, reconciled future on this island."
A panel discussion on “Cultural identities on a shared island - can we move from acceptance to celebration?” will hear young people’s views on the challenges facing cultural diversity on the island, on the role, if any, that politics plays in how cultural diversity is considered, and also exploring what a celebration of cultural diversity on a shared island might look like.
A second-panel discussion on “Personal identities - better representing diverse identities on the island of Ireland” will examine how certain aspects of personal identity - race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, ability, socio-economic background are accommodated in society, North and South.
This Dialogue is the eleventh event in the Shared Island Dialogue series that was launched by the Taoiseach in October 2020 to foster constructive and inclusive civic dialogue with all communities and traditions on a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Content from the event will be posted on social media throughout the day by @merrionstreet and you can follow the discussion online using #SharedIsland.
The Shared Island Dialogue series has been focusing on important issues for the future of the island, including climate change and environment, equality, education and economic recovery.
The Dialogue series is contributing to the government’s approach to the Shared Island initiative, complementing commissioned research being published through this year, and the implementation of commitments on a Shared Island that are set out in the Programme for Government.
Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to the strategic challenges facing Ireland, North and South are key objectives.
The Shared Island Dialogues are being organised by the Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach in partnership with government departments. Today’s dialogue was delivered in collaboration with St. Columb’s Hall Trust, Cooperation Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Further information on the Shared Island initiative, can be found on www.gov.ie/sharedisland and the previous Plenary sessions of the Shared Island Dialogues are available to watch at www.gov.ie/sharedisland/dialogues.