Minister discusses community relations with Women's Coalition

Community Relations Minister, Des Browne has met with the Women's Coalition to discuss the future direction of community relations policy.

The meeting was the second in a series with political parties following the launch in January of ‘A Shared Future’, a major public consultation document on the future direction of community relations.

It also comes at a time when fear grips many parts of Northern Ireland as the marching season approaches.

Commenting on the meeting, the Minister said: “Community Relations is an imperative. We must all work together to create and to cement peace and reconciliation. A shared society cannot be imposed on people, it must be built on consensus.

“In order to achieve this we need wide ranging, in-depth debate, in which ordinary people can make their views known about the type of Northern Ireland they wish to live in, and the steps that need to be taken to bring this about. I welcome this opportunity to have met with representatives from the Northern Ireland Woman’s Coalition on this important matter and will be giving their views very careful consideration."

Following the discussions Mr Browne confirmed he would be meeting with other political parties in the coming weeks as well as church leaders and the wider civic society.

Today's meeting also comes a day after Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble met with representatives of loyalist paramilitaries in the hope of steming sectarian violence during the marching season.

(MB)