Hard issues must be addressed says Minister

A Minister in the Office of the First and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) has said that the devolved administration's vision of a peaceful and fair society must be firmly founded on the achievement of reconciliation and tolerance, with the protection and vindication of human rights for all.

Dennis Haughey was speaking to delegates at a conference in Londonderry's new City Hotel, organised by the Peace and Reconciliation Group.

The Minister said: "If we are to build a cohesive, inclusive and just society, we must address a range of hard issues. Inequalities and divisions in society will only disappear if there are consistent, focused and effective policies to deal with them.

"In attempting to formulate these effective policies within the Programme for Government this administration accepts that in working together to create a new future we have to deal with very deep and painful divisions within our society as a result of decades of division and conflict."

Mr Haughey also paid tribute to the work undertaken in Londonderry by the Peace and Reconciliation Group. He said: "Over the past 25 years the Peace and Reconciliation Group has, for many, been a lifeline as it assisted, advocated and lobbied on behalf of those who were victims of violence.

"Against a backdrop when funding for community relations work was difficult to access, the networks developed by the Group were vital in helping to sustain good relations among a sadly divided people. On many occasions, the Group was instrumental in preventing an escalation in violence."

The Peace and Reconciliation Group has been in existence since 1976 and was originally affiliated to the Peace People.

In 1978 the organisation became an autonomous body and has been providing a service to the city of Londonderry for the past 25 years. It currently employs four full-time staff and one full-time international volunteer from America. There are also many volunteers in the community and the Group accommodates international and local placement students each year.

The Group provides a service for the whole of Londonderry, which has a population of over 100,000.

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