JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT ------AN COMHCHOISTE UM FHORFHEIDHMIÚ CHOMHAONTÚ AOINE AN CHÉASTA

Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st February 2018

Visit to WAVE Trauma Centre, British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat, Belfast Gaeltacht Quarter, Lower Shankill Community Association, Cultúrlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich, Féile an Phobail, Coláiste Feirste, and Relatives for Justice:

Key Findings

TRAVEL REPORT

32/JCIGFA/06

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1. Background

The Joint Committee, as part of its Work Programme, agreed the importance of stepping up engagement with the spectrum of political and community representatives in Northern Ireland on the issue of Brexit, and in other areas.

Following on from the conclusion of a series of public meetings on the impact of Brexit, and the launch of the Joint Committee report titled “The Implications of Brexit for the Good Friday Agreement: Key Findings” dated June 2017, the Joint Committee agreed to undertake a visit to Northern Ireland.

The Committee has held a number of informal meetings in the last 12 months which have all taken place in Leinster House. While these meetings are very useful the Committee also sees considerable potential in outreach visits both for informing stakeholders in relation to the work of the Committee and for providing access directly to the Committee in an informal setting.

At its meeting dated 6 July 2017, the Joint Committee agreed to a series of meetings with various community and interest groups.

This report provides details of the meetings held in Belfast on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st February 2018.

2. Members

The meetings were attended by the following Members from the Houses of the Oireachtas.

- Deputies: Sean Crowe (Chair), Declan Breathnach, Brendan Smith, Maureen O’Sullivan, Fergus O’Dowd - Senators: Frances Black, Frank Feighan, Niall Ó Donnghaile and Mark Daly

The Joint Committee was accompanied on this visit by:

- Committee Secretariat: Diarmaid Breathnach, Policy Advisor/Visit Rapporteur

During the Wednesday Programme, the following Northern Ireland MPs were invited to accompany the Joint Committee:

- Chris Hazzard, Paul Maskey, Elisha McCallion, Michelle Gildernew

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3. Visit to WAVE Trauma Centre

The WAVE Trauma Centre1 was established in 1991 to offer care and support to anyone bereaved, injured or traumatised through the conflict in Northern Ireland, irrespective of religious, cultural or political belief.

WAVE’s direct support services have been provided since 1991and availed of by over 5,000 individuals ranging from adults, to young people and children. Over 2,000 people currently engage in its support provisions which include advocacy & casework service, complementary therapies, counselling & psychotherapy, and outreach support and welfare advice. Services are delivered regionally across five project centres located in Belfast, Omagh, Armagh, Derry/Londonderry and Ballymoney with associated satellite provision.

The Joint Committee met with the following members of the WAVE team at their centre in South Belfast to hear about their work and concerns:

- Alan McBride and Sandra Peake – CEO WAVE (the work of WAVE) - Rev Dr David Clements and Fiona Kelly (the needs of the bereaved) - Alex Bunting (special pensions for the injured) - Paul Gallagher and Peter Heathwood (the on-going challenges faced by the injured) - Professor Jean Orr, Marianne Moutray and Marie Therese O’Hagan (trauma education)

The main areas of focus during the meeting were:

 On-going legacy issues for the bereaved  Special pension provisions for the severely injured  Trauma Education

A discussion followed and challenges faced by the community availing of WAVE’s services were outlined; these included unresolved justice issues, statute of limitations, placing all cases on official and public record, amnesty, and pensions. Speakers also stressed the importance of establishing what historic information is there for all those affected and emphasised the strong need within families affected by the Troubles wanting to know that their cases have been thoroughly reviewed and are part of the official record. They would like to see an end to the many consultations which keep coming and see mechanisms put in place to acknowledge all cases both big and small. The main concern of the bereaved was that their loved ones be not forgotten and that whatever comes out of the process must not raise false expectations but be realistic and helpful.

1 http://www.wavetraumacentre.org.uk/home

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Another legacy issue raised by the group was that of pensions. Committee members were told that WAVE’s Injured Group had been campaigning for over seven years to get legislation through the Northern Ireland Assembly for pension provision for those injured during the Troubles. However, while all local parties support the provision of pensions for the injured they cannot agree on who should qualify. When the issue was brought to the Northern Ireland Office it maintained that this was a devolved matter, a point of view with which WAVE is in strong disagreement and it informed the Committee that it was seeking the support of the Irish Government to use its leverage on the UK Government to legislate for such a pension.

Trauma Education and awareness was an area for which WAVE members could find no training and therefore started its own programme within its communities to assist in dealing with trauma (including intergenerational trauma) as an emotional response and to educate victims on trauma awareness. Members were provided with information on WAVE’s trauma education programmes and how they have been developed over 18 years to address the lack of trained personnel in dealing with trauma. Students are now being offered a range of options to meet their learning needs and credited programmes are provided at diploma and degree level. A master’s level will commence in the coming year. While these developments in trauma training are very positive, the group expressed concern around current funding issues in general and cited the example of bursaries being available to attend courses in the North only but not in the south of the border.

Committee members heard how WAVE sees victims and survivors as having a common voice irrespective of background, and inclusivity is all-important in this regard. Those affected are both in the north and the south, however it was pointed out that services and resources in the South were not adequate in this regard and WAVE is not funded to operate in the Republic. As a result of the points raised above, representatives pointed out that the severely injured are left to struggle and live on benefits and are in fear of being totally dependent on such benefits and on organisations and individuals. It was further suggested that all legacy issues raised at the meeting must be dealt with by both governments and the Committee could perhaps play a role in this regard.

Committee members thanked the group for facilitating the meeting, and acknowledged the work carried out by WAVE to date and the challenges remaining. The Committee Chair informed those present that it was willing to assist in raising awareness of the issues spoken of and furthermore explained that Northern Ireland MPs receive invitations to all Committee meetings and could also avail of the Committee as a forum to raise these same issues. It was further explained that the Committee’s main aim of the current exercise was to visit groups in their local areas and to listen to their experiences and needs as part of its wider programme to report on legacy issues and to use this mechanism to make recommendations and engage in discussion and get out and meet groups. Committee members explained to representatives present that while it was guided by the Department of Foreign Affairs it will continue to engage with groups and produce reports as part of a consultative purpose to reflect the victims’ experiences. While meetings in Parliament can be a barrier to communication and more visits to the communities are essential, it was also suggested that Committee members

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would be interested in hearing more Unionist voices and proposed that some Unionist MPs come and make a submission to the Committee at one of its meeting in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Joint Committee Members advised they would be discussing their visit at the next Joint Committee meeting and would discuss what actions the Committee could take to help and support them.

Members of the Committee and victims of the Conflict (WAVE Trauma Centre - 20 Feb 2018)

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4. Working Lunch hosted by British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat

The Committee was welcomed by Kevin Conmy, Joint Secretary, and some of his staff. Members received briefings over lunch on the re-formation of the Northern Ireland Executive, legacy issues arising from the Stormont House Agreement, on going legacy cases, and Brexit. 5. Visit to Belfast Gaeltacht Quarter

The Gaeltacht Quarter/An Cheathrú Ghaeltachta is an area surrounding the Falls Road in West Belfast aimed at promoting the Irish language and culture. The Committee met with representatives from Forbairt Feirste Thiar and Failte Feirste in Cultúlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich (An Chultúrlann)2 on the Lower Falls Road in West Belfast. The Cultúrlann was opened in 1991 as an Irish cultural centre in an former Presbyterian church named after 19th century Presbyterian businessman and Gaelic revivalist Robert Shipboy McAdam and 20th century Gaelic scholar Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich. Members were given a tour of the centre which has a theatre, restaurant, book shop, offices and conference rooms. In 2011, the centre was estimated to receive over 80,000 visitors per year.

2 http://www.culturlann.ie/en/welcome/

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Forbairt Feirste is a development agency which uses the Irish language as its main resource in empowering the socio-economic situation in Belfast. It was established in 1994 to promote the cultural and linguistic heritage of Belfast. Its main thrust is unleashing the socio- economic power of Belfast’s Irish speaking community to the benefit of the entire city.

Fáilte Feirste Thiar was set up to promote and encourage tourism in West Belfast through supporting tourism related business and social enterprises. It provides training for tourist guides in its efforts to promote the uniqueness of this part of the city through rebranding the area as a pace to visit which provides a quality tourist attraction.

The Joint Committee met with the following representatives

- Jake Mac Siacais (Forbairt Feirste, Business and Community Development Agency) - Aisling Ní Labhraí (Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich) - Fáilte Feirste Thiar (promoting tourism in West Belfast) - Pilib Ó Rúnaí (Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaípocht)

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Key themes throughout the meeting were:

 Post-secondary Irish-medium education  Training gaps  Delayed updating of Irish language textbooks

Members were provided with a brief description of the Gaeltacht Quarter and in particular the role of the Irish language which is spoken by 31.7% of the population in two separate wards within the quarter. Close to 600 people are directly employed in the language and 1,500 children receive their education through the language. The first bunscoil (primary school) was opened in 1971 without any official support or recognition from the State and it took 27 years for the school to get its full entitlements. Progress has been made since and demand for Irish-medium education is very much on the increase. Committee members heard how receiving an education through the language and living in Irish-language speaking neighbourhoods, schoolchildren feel that Irish is natural to them.

Members were told that a school built several years ago for 600 pupils now has 650 as is in immediate need of further development and support in catering for the incremental expected increase in the next few years. However, in spite of this high demand for Irish-medium education State support is severely lacking and much work needs to be done in this regard.

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Committee members were also provided with information on Gaelchúrsaí, an organisation set up set up 6 years ago to provide further education through Irish and training for teachers and class room assistants in helping the Irish education sector help itself. Gaelchúrsaí ensures through the running of its own credited programmes that there is sufficient human resources to deliver Irish medium education in response to the growing demands of the community. However the Committee was reminded that, in spite of such progress, there was a challenge for young adults in continuing to learn and to qualify through the language once they left secondary school. This is due to a lack of university and technical centres providing courses in Irish and training gaps remain to be filled. Groups represented added that the Northern Ireland Department of Education was not helpful in this regard and often asks the question can one not do with receiving training through English.

Deep frustration was expressed with the issues above and Members were further reminded that the Council of Europe also expressed concern for Irish-medium education in Northern Ireland in its mandatory reports as part of implementation of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.3

Members expressed high praise for the achievements by these groups over the years and acknowledged the lack of engagement from the Northern Ireland Department of Education. The Committee was interested to hear from the group representatives on the resistance from the Unionist community to their cause and wondered where the message could be going wrong in getting this community on board. The group in response stated that while Irish- medium education eventually becomes fulfilled in the same way as English-medium education, it really only ‘catches up to stand still’. In overall terms however the lack of Government support and strong resistance from unionist communities was a major issue and highlighted what the group considered to be the urgency of passing an Irish language Act which would provide official recognition for the language. In the representatives’ view, this is not understood fully south of the border and they suggested that the Committee could perhaps assist in proposing to its parent department to send a fact-finding delegation, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the North to see the language issues at first hand.

Committee Members thanked the group for facilitating the meeting, and for their honest and frank discussion on the challenges they face, and the positive progress that has been made to date by working together. The Joint Committee Members advised they would be discussing their visit at the next Joint Committee meeting and would discuss what actions the Committee could take to help and support them.

3 https://rm.coe.int/168007bf4b

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6. Meeting with Representatives from LEGASI Programme

LEGaSI (Learning, Engagement, Growth and Succession Intervention) is a project4 developed by Cooperation Ireland aimed at facilitating those within the Protestant Unionist Loyalist (PUL) areas to strengthen their communities. Co-Operation Ireland was set up as a registered charity in 1979 as a response to the conflict in Northern Ireland and has as its main objective to build peace by advancing mutual understanding and respect through practical co- operation between the people of Ireland and between the different communities within Northern Ireland. It has also administered a number of cross-border elements of EU Funding Programmes, including the EU’s PEACE Programmes.

LEGaSI works with individuals on the ground in identifying suitable learning opportunities to build their capacity to become agents of change and to build a vision for their local community. Those taking part in the project are drawn from the more marginalised PUL communities who are seen to be disproportionately affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland and consist of 50% male 50% female ranging in age from 27 to 67.

The Committees’ visit was in response to an invitation from grassroots loyalist organisation to discuss implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the peace dividend for loyalist communities. The visit commenced with a walking tour of Shankill and members were taken from the Lower Shankill Associations offices to the interface gates at Northumberland Street led by community worker Ian Mcloughlin.

The Joint Committee met with the following representatives

- Dr Alan Largey (Project Manager) - I McLaughlin - A McGrath - R Love - D McCullough - T Patrick - R Fletcher - K Philips - Brian - J Barkley - R Sterritt

4 http://www.cooperationireland.org/programmes/community-programmes/legasi/

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Key themes throughout the meeting were

 Legacy issues arising form the Good Friday Agreement  Brexit  Social issues  Education

Members of the Committee on East Belfast walkabouts (Shankill Road - 20 Feb 2018)

Following the short walkabout above members retired to the premises of the Lower Shankill Community Association on the Shankill Road to meet with representatives from the PUL community. Members were given a brief description of LEGaSI’s work in such areas as maintaining the peace through women’s work and youth work, reparation activity, housing replacement, identity, the future of EU funding for PEACE and INTERREG, cross border cooperation, and the on-going political stalemate since the collapse of the Northern Ireland Government. The on-going issue for the PUL community was that the full and potential benefits of the Good Friday Agreement were not seeping through to the local community and for many within the loyalist communities in East Belfast the peace dividend was yet to happen. Representatives explained to members that the peace dividend needed to be experienced by all in providing a sense of value and purpose for people on the ground.

Strong views were expressed by the group on what it considered to be ‘the deception around the Agreement’ and the great expectations raised by it. The great opportunities leading up to the Agreement were considered to have been lost now and having a detrimental effect on

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those within the PUL communities of East Belfast. Group representatives referred to the decrease in their local population by almost two thirds since 1975 and increasing rise in isolation and mental healthy issues. In addition there is a rising drugs problem indicating an overall deterioration in quality of life for the community since the Good Friday Agreement.

The group expressed deep frustration with the lack of a proper cohesive strategy being in place to deal with these issues which has now lead to aspirations levels being very low 20 years after the signing of the Agreement. Representatives expressed their concerns at the withdrawal of support tools with which the community could create the environment it wants.

As time goes on problems are becoming incrementally worse; one concrete example provided was the substantial reduction in police numbers from fifteen to six thousand and as a result police will rarely respond to an old pensioner call over a broken window and community representatives are called to deal with it. Mental health problems have increased greatly and are drawing substantially on police resources. Intergenerational trauma is leading to hypervigilism throughout the communities and leaving many feeling on edge. Drugs- related issues are also drawing on police resources and the community is seeing an increase in drug abuse due to drugs crossing over the border from the South. Successful anti-drugs initiatives such as the ‘One Pill will Kill’ campaign could perhaps be rolled out in the South also in an effort to have all-Ireland/cross border drug awareness programmes.

With regard to education it was pointed out by the group that there was an irony in that while the education system in Northern Ireland has the best A-level results it has the highest number of people leaving with nothing. Therefore while the results may be high the retention rate is low and in reality there are strong feelings of no hope amongst the young. Their parents have no jobs and young people have no jobs resulting in the challenge how to improve aspiration levels and convince the younger generation of the value of education in working class areas.

Reference was also made during the exchange of views on BREXIT and how it was being used in some quarters to support an argument for re-unification of the island while at the same time posing a threat for funding initiatives such as the PEACE programmes arising out of the Good Friday Agreement.

Committee members in responding to the above contributions stated very strongly its will to engage more with the communities represented and proposed that a presentation to the committee at one of its meetings in Dublin, or receiving submissions from the group, could play a positive role in achieving this. There is undoubtedly a void in terms of hearing the PUL voice in the South but the Committee can provide the opportunity to unlock the voice and have their concerns raised. The Committee Chair on behalf of the members further reiterated that legacy issues were currently part of the Committee’s agenda and while it doesn’t have actual power it can draw up reports and make recommendations. This visit formed part of an outreach visits giving Committee members the opportunity to meet those who feel they have been let down by the slowness of change.

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Members of the Committee visit the International Wall on Belfast Peace Line (20 Feb 2018)

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7. Meeting with Coiste na nIarchimí

The Joint Committee met with the following representatives

- Michael Culbert - Tommy Quigley

Key themes throughout the meeting were

 Access to funding for ex Republican prisoners  Denial of equal citizenship  Access to financial and insurance services  Lack of adequate and client-centred services  Denial of adopting and fostering to ex-prisoners  Extended temporary release

Coiste na nIarchimí is a group of former republican prisoners of the Troubles who deliver walking tours where they share their personal experiences of the conflict.

The two representatives from the group above informed the Joint Committee that the majority of former IRA prisoners released under the good Friday Agreement were supportive of the peace process but problems arose in that expectations were not being realised. A major issue in this regard is what the group sees as the decrease in status as citizens. Ex-prisoners continue to be denied equality of treatment, employment, travel etc. e.g. two former Republican prisoners were deported from Mexico last year, and employment contracts were being broken and problems encountered in procuring business loans.

Members learnt of the high level of voluntary support and goodwill being provided in bringing about change and improving social and economic conditions. Deep concern was expressed by the representatives on the lack of funding for services such as those provided for former RUC officers, such as counselling, emotional support, training and education for former prisoners and their families. Such support is badly needed in assisting these members of the community in resettling and reintegrating into society. This concern is amplified by the fact that this population is ageing as some prisoners were jailed as far back as the early seventies and no funding or medical support has been finding its way to them.

Committee members asked about Iarchimí’s relations with Loyalist who also felt they were missing out on the peace dividend also. Coiste na n-Iarchimí were currently engaged with other organisations as part of the Special EU Programmes Body’s PEACE IV project, however PEACE I , while providing funds to improve cross-community relations, it did not provided any funding for ex-prisoners. The group asked Committee members if it could think of ways in which it could support them in accessing funds to carry out their work in this regard and one suggestion put forward was the possibility of exploring the issue through the Steering group of the Parliamentary Assembly while also raising the matter in the Seanad.

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Also it was explained by Coiste na n-Iarchimí that there was a general view among political ex-prisoners that the only way to end discrimination is to put an end to the criminal records with an amnesty or expunging the convictions and to include ex-prisoners in all Equality Legislation.

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8. Roundtable Discussions with Representatives of Irish- Language Groups

The Joint Committee met with the following representatives

- Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhéin (Conradh na Gaeilge) - Feargal (An Dream Dearg, recently established grassroots campaigning organisation response to the decision by DUP Minister Paul Givan to cut the Líofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme) - Padaí Ó Tiarnaigh (Glór na Móna, organisation delivering Irish-language youth services in the Upper Springfield area of West Belfast) - Linda Irvine and Gordon McCoy (Turas, East Belfast based group promoting Irish language within the PUL community) - Róise Ní Bhaoill (Ultach Trust, an independent charitable trust whose principal aim is the promotion of Irish throughout all communities) - Fergus Ó hÍr and Eoin Ó Néil (Raidió Failte, Irish-language West Belfast community radio station service)

Key themes throughout the meeting were

 Irish Language Act  Irish language education and School funding

The representatives’ main concern as expressed to Committee members was the lack of political will and language planning on the part of the Government. Language elements of the Good Friday Agreement were aspirational in the main and proper concrete measures have not been applied within the Agreement’s first 20 years. Young children were getting the message from politicians that they cannot have rights accorded under the Good Friday Agreement provided to others.

Reference was made to one recommendation in the Agreement which was successful and which concerned statutory duties towards the Irish language in education. While welcoming this fact, it still remained the case that Irish-language schools were still being deprived of funding. This was becoming an increasing concern as demand for Irish-language medium education was growing at a fast rate throughout all educational sectors. Enrolment rates for secondary education through the language will increase from six to twelve thousand in just a few years; 13 community groups providing adult Irish language have increased by 70%.

These trends are leading to a strong vocal and growing group of young adults being radicalised in favour of an Irish Language Act and who consider this a right on equal terms with those civil rights demanded during the late 1960s. The ever increasing and on-going debate is creating further interest in the language and leading to a huge public consensus for an Irish Language Act. Members heard from group representatives how now for the first time a majority of MLAs now support language rights and this goodwill needs to be seized upon immediately in bringing the language forward. There was a strong need therefore for firm and clear recommendations in black and white where obligations are clearly set out and not left open to interpretation.

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Members were told that Irish-language groups in Northern Ireland are about revitalisation and inclusivity of the language which can only be achieved through an Irish Language Act. Such an act is mentioned in the Good Friday Agreement but no progress has been made on its introduction and this is now further impeded with the cessation of the Stormont Assembly. All progress is therefore pushed back and Irish language provision is not being agreed by the powers that be leading to the urgency in acquiring some agreement outside the remit of Stormont.

Group representatives were of the very strong opinion that Irish language community could no longer be patient with delays in introducing a language act, a demand which grew bottom- up from the community. These communities run their own Irish-language activities such as Irish-language youth clubs and language courses, and are now politicalised and radicalised in relation to language rights issues and are not willing to let the State off the hook in this regard.

In spite of some strong opposition from some Unionist/Loyalist quarters, the numbers for Irish language speakers and learners have grown significantly within East Belfast Community but scaremongering and fear continue to be thrown about. The issue around the introduction of an Irish Language Act has become a political issue and Unionists at party political level currently will not support it. However some group representatives were optimistic and of the view that this was political opposition only and that ordinary Unionists on the ground were not against the language per se as they are well aware that it does not affect them either way. However, ignoring and burying their concerns will not help and the irrational arguments being put forward need to be challenged head-on. Members were told that events being organised throughout those communities who may be hostile towards the language can make a difference where the strong message is clearly communicated that a language act has no bearing whatsoever on those for whom it means nothing. This can be achieved by letting the public know what an Irish Language Act means or perhaps more importantly, what it doesn’t mean, therefore creating greater transparency and awareness around the issue.

Within the context of the international Good Friday Agreement grave concern was expressed on the delay in implementing proposals therein with regard to an Irish Language Act due in the main to the collapse of the Stormont Assembly. The language groups present were strongly of the view that responsibility now falls on the co-guarantors of the Agreement, Westminster and Dublin. A return to government without a solution for a language act and education funding will only stall efforts further.

Members were reminded also of another international agreement signed by the British Government and where it committed to certain issues around Irish in Northern Ireland. The Council of Europe’s ‘European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages’5 is a European treaty (CETS 148) adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe. The United Kingdom is a co-signatory of the Charter and has signed up to the implementation of certain of its

5 5 https://rm.coe.int/168007bf4b

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recommendations. The Council of Europe’s Charter Implementation groups has been heavily critical of the British Government for its lack of implementation with regard to the Irish language.

It was suggested that Committee could support Conradh na Gaeilge’s request to meet directly with the Irish Government and engage it in Irish language issues and the Irish Language Act in particular. While the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland told Irish language representatives that the language act was an issue for devolvement, group representatives strongly expressed the view that this is a civil rights issue which cannot be put on the back burner and must happen now. It is not an issue for devolvement but an issue related to implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Irish-language community will not let it go, especially the younger generation, and this was well demonstrated at a recent march in support of an Act which attracted a crowd of ca fifteen thousand, mainly young people

The media also has a lead role to play in this regard. Certain sections of the media are vehemently opposed to a language act and are negative from the onset in their reporting and studio discussions and need to be challenged. Other less negative media outlets must also be encouraged to play their role in challenging any misconceptions being thrown about in relation to a language act. Group representatives were concerned at overall media coverage, both North and South, which were equally responsible for not ensuring that all voices are heard. There was particular reference to certain radio and television shows which were continually expressing an ant-Irish language viewpoint which could be considered to be in breach of the BBC’s Charter. The BBC was seen by those present to be dividing people and making the South look like a foreign country. The media in general is partitionist, divisive and pushing people apart and it was proposed by some of those present that the Committee could use its influence by writing directly to the Chair of the BBC Trust in this regard.

Another issue related to Irish-language broadcasting concerned Northern Ireland’s only Irish- language radio station, Raidió Fáilte.6 Based in Belfast, members heard how Raidió Fáilte was curtailed by Ofcom to operate under a community licence only, thus limiting its transmission radius to five kilometres only. The station is language based and not geographical based and the case was made that Ofcom could allow it extend its radius as such a restriction is an Ofcom rule only and is not enshrined in broadcast legislation. On the positive side the Committee heard that a new facility was now being built at a cast of £32m for Irish language, community and broadcasting training.

Committee members that the issues raised were indeed real issues People were needed to lead and play a role at all levels to dissolve the scaremongering around the Irish language. The Committee Chair were reminded those present that it can and intends to use its voice to raise the issues brought up by Irish language representatives. The Committee shared the frustration expressed on the lack of implementation of the Good Friday Agreement which results in a continual denial of people’s rights. Individually also the Committee members can restate some of the issues they consider relevant. Also it was suggested by one Committee

6 http://www.raidiofailte.com/

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member that the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands could also be invited to visit the North for follow up engagement on some of the issues raised.

Members of the Committee and representatives of Irish language groups (Europa Hotel - 21 Feb 2018)

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9. Lunch Discussion with Féile an Phobail

The Joint Committee met with representatives of Féile an Phobail for an informal lunch at Cultúrlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich. Members were briefed on the work of the Féile and on the local history of the area and its surroundings.

Féile an Phobail is a charity/company based in West Belfast set up in 1988 in direct response to the Troubles and their effect on the local community. Its main event is the August Féile, a carnival parade festival routinely brings thousands of participants for a colourful, musical procession with specially-designed floats representing a chosen theme, dancers and children in costume and face masks. In thirty years it has grown from modest beginnings to being the largest community arts festival in Ireland consisting of its main August event and smaller year-around events.

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10. Visit to Coláiste Feirste

The Joint Committee met with the following representatives

- Mícheál Mac Giolla - Damian Mac Giolla

Members learned from school representatives how Meánscoil Feirste, later to become Coláiste Feirste, was first set up in 1991 with just 9 pupils and with no state support for the first 6 years. The school was a community-led initiative first located in Cultúrlann Mac Adam ó Fiaich with funding and support from parents and the local community.

The school has now been expanded to over 600 pupils and is the biggest Irish-medium secondary school on the whole of the island of Ireland. Committee members visited the school’s new buildings in Beechmount, West Belfast and met with teachers and pupils who explained the school’s primary aim to provide post primary education through the medium of the Irish language to the highest standard possible. They see the school as an in integral part in building the community around it and continuing and contributing to its linguistic and cultural heritage. In addition to providing a high level accredited educational within a socially deprived community, the school plays a central role in transforming and improving the community in other areas also through creating a pastoral environment by using Irish to

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motivate and create passion and energy. The importance of extending the language beyond the school was also stressed and the need for those who leave the school to continue to contribute to the language to the benefit of the community and the wider world was stressed. To date 40 Irish language youth clubs are in existence and current community leaders in Irish language sectors consist in the main of former pupils. Such has been the school’s success that it is projected to continue expanding as the second generation begins to filter through.

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11. Meeting with Relatives for Justice

Relatives for injustice was set up in 1991 by relatives of those killed during the conflict. It is an Irish based human rights NGO providing holistic support services to the bereaved and injured of the conflict on an inclusive and non-judgmental basis. In addition to providing appropriate therapeutic and developmental based support for the bereaved and injured of the conflict within a safe environment, seeks to examine and develop transitional justice and truth recovery mechanisms.

The Joint Committee met with the following representatives

- Mike Richie (Senior Case Worker Director) - Stanislaus Carberry (whose father Stanislaus Carberry was shot on 13th November 1972 by British soldiers on the Falls Road. Stan Jnr and his sister are challenging the Ministry of Defence and the NIO in relation to their father’s death) - Mary Kate Quinn (whose uncle John Laverty is one of the Ballymurphy Massacre victims, shot dead by members of the British Parachute Regiment on 11th August 1971. A new inquest has been ordered in this case) - Mark Thompson (Director of Relatives for Justice, whose brother, Peter was shot dead by undercover British soldiers on 13th January 1990) - Marian Walsh and her daughter Karen (Marian’s son, Damien Walsh was shot dead by the UDA/UFF on 25th March 1993- strong allegations of collusion arise in respect of his death; these have been investigated by the Police Ombudsman. The report is complete and awaiting publication. Marian’s first made her complaint 14 years ago) - Mark Sykes was injured in the Ormeau Road Bookies shooting 5th February 1992 by the UDA/UVF. The Police Ombudsman investigation is complete and awaiting publication.

Key themes throughout the meeting were

 Funding for legacy inquests  Delays in inquest reports  Seeking justice  Collusion

Committee members heard from the family members listed above and how they continued to be affected by their losses and by their difficulty in obtaining the truth on the killings referred. Concerns were expressed on the holding back of Police Ombudsman reports due to challenges from retired police officers and other investigative reports proceeding without the relevant parties being contacted for statements. Committee members heard of Relatives for Justice’s were of the strong view that political Unionists and the legacy support unit set up by the PSNI were playing a major part in blocking progress. There are on-going battles over intelligence and access to it and Obstacles are being placed in the way to protect all involved who do not want some information to be in the public domain. And this can only lead to the conclusion that the Northern Ireland Office, the British Government and the Democratic

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Unionist Party are colluding on legacy issues. This is continually being addressed by Relatives for Justice who proposed that the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee could write to the Northern Ireland Chief Police Officer, Chief Justice, Ombudsman and the DUP in highlighting the issues raised.

It was strongly stressed to all present that families need the truth now as time is passing and Troubles-related inquests remain stuck in the system due to a dispute over additional funding for the cases. There continues to be inequality of compensation It was the view of those present that the British government should make sure that inquests can go ahead so that family members and the bereaved can have all their questions answered and be fairly compensated.

The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland made proposals for legacy issues to dealt with in a timely manner to the satisfaction of all parties as part of the United Kingdom’s Government’s obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights, however Europe has not yet signed off on the implementation of such an obligation.

Members of the Committee and Relatives of those killed (Relatives for Justice Glen Road, Belfast - 21 Feb 2018)

The Committee Chair expressed the Committee’s appreciation hearing the families’ stories story and informed those present that the Committee was currently looking at issues around inquests. While the Committee has no power, it can make recommendations to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and for this reason it was very important that it had this

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opportunity to meet with these families to hear their stories at first hand. The Chair of the Committee in response to the above stated that the Committee wanted to put you these issue into the political domain and one way to do this was for Relatives for Justice to send in a formal submission for consideration by the Committee. It can put pressure on the Irish Government and Council of Ministers. It was also suggested to those present that the time was now right to for maximum expose all of these issues in Britain. Also a forum could be organised to debate the issues and find way to move everything forward. The Committee welcomed further engagement from Relatives for Justice in this regard.

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