Reid warns against Protestant isolation in Northern Ireland

In a speech to students in England the Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said that Protestants must not feel rejected as a result of the developing peace process in the province.

In his keynote speech to the Institute of Irish Studies at Liverpool University on Wednesday November 21, Dr Reid spoke of the need for politicians and church leaders to encourage and push for a future free from the prevailing “virus” of sectarianism.

He said alongside the acknowledgement and recognition of the sense of Irish identity among nationalists, recognition of the British identity of unionists was equally important. He warned: “Northern Ireland must not become a cold place for Protestants.

“The Catholic community today breathes confidence, coherence and dynamism and yet there is still a deep sense of unease, a feeling of not quite being at home.

“At the same time as Catholic confidence has increased, the unionist community's confidence has declined as if Catholic confidence could only be at the expense of unionists.”

He stressed that the churches have a major role to play in changing local perspectives and must have the courage to break the cycle. He said: “Like the political leaders, the churches could surely do more to reach out beyond the limits of their own allegiances to embrace the vision of a society where everyone feels at ease and at home.”

Dr. Reid concluded: “What Northern Ireland needs from its politicians, now more than ever before, is a common vision of a new, inclusive society. Both communities are in need of ‘persuasion’ and the only people capable of persuading them are their counterparts in the other community.

“If the Belfast Agreement is to move forward, Northern Ireland needs to hear urgently from those with the energy and commitment to lift their people beyond the present horizon to a time and place where co-operation and compassion replace suspicion and strife.” (AMcE)