Steph O'Rourke

We were delighted to have Minister @jackfchambers of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation opening this #PEACEPLUS event in Iveagh House: Peacebuilding in Action - Three Decades of Protecting Peace on the Island of Ireland. Minister Chambers gave a very poignant reflection on the continued commitment of the Irish Government and partners to peacebuilding and cooperation, the challenges that have been overcome over the past 30 years, the challenges that remain and urged us all not to become complacent. Thank you to Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, @nealerichmond, who gave the audience an insight into his personal experiences of living in a border area before and after the Good Friday Agreement. The event brought together politicians, ambassadors, policymakers, partners and project representatives, providing an opportunity to reflect on progress and to consider the role PEACEPLUS continues to play across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Our projects including CyberQuest (@bytesproject), the Shannonside Peace Arena (@leitrimcoco), the Community Alcohol Detox + Project (@CAWTCrossBorder), the Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme (@Translink_NI), and Journeys (@springboardopp), provided a clear and impactful picture of how PEACEPLUS is supporting communities, improving connections and addressing shared challenges in practical ways. Our thanks to all speakers, project representatives, and attendees for their thoughtful and constructive engagement. @SEUPB Chief Executive @GinaMcIntyre24 said: “This engagement reflects the strong and ongoing commitment of the Irish Government, alongside our other funding partners, to supporting peace and reconciliation in practical and meaningful activities that contribute to peace and prosperity. “That sustained support continues to make a real difference in communities and gives us confidence in the progress that can be achieved when we work together.” Bringing partners and decision-makers together in a government setting remains important and demonstrated the value of sustained investment in peacebuilding, while creating space to share learning and to build on what has been achieved over three decades.