Too little done to meet key objectives of Good Friday Agreement – Taoiseach

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Opportunities to tackle sectarianism and disadvantage have not been taken since the g of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Mr Martin said the sad reality is that “far too little has been done” to meet some of the key objectives of the historic peace agreement, which will reach its 25th anniversary next year.

He was speaking as he addressed his party’s annual commemoration of Wolfe Tone in Co Kildare.

He also used the address to attack Sinn Féin, accusing the party of trying to shut down debate.

Mr Martin said a key objective of the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement was “to remove the causes of conflict, to overcome the legacy of history, and to heal the divisions which have resulted”.

He said: “The sad reality is that nearly a quarter of a century later, far too little has been done.

“Too much time has been wasted.

“Too few have been willing to undertake the basic work of questioning themselves and finding ways to build a shared respect across historic barriers.

“Opportunities to tackle disadvantage and to tackle sectarianism have not been taken, and remain unfulfilled.

“There has been a lot of talk about unity and reconciliation but very little work done to actually build the bridges which make it happen.

“One of the great failings of the last 25 years is that very little work was done about doing the hard work of studying the differences, similarities and opportunities in practical but fundamental areas.

“There’s been no shortage of people willing to make grand claims about services, but it is remarkable how little has been done to actually quantify what the current situation is on both sides of the border.

“That’s why we are already publishing the most detailed ever research on health services, trade, childcare, education and other vital areas between north and south.

“To give a very practical example, research on education is showing huge disparities in early school leaving as well as differences in access and approaches to ing both achievement and inclusion.

“This is giving us a blueprint for the future – a blueprint for action which benefits all on our island.”

Referring to Sinn Féin, Mr Martin said: “Anyone who sincerely believes in a republican vision for our country should be appalled by the growing attempt to intimidate and shut down debate by one party which refuses to accept the basic ability accepted by everyone else.

“There is something deeply wrong with a party which has built its entire existence on honouring a campaign of violence but now attacks and sues anyone who claims that they ed particular actions within that campaign.”

The Taoiseach went on to say the Irish people remain among the strongest ers of Ukraine.

He added: “I am proud of how the Irish people have said with such loud clarity that we Ukraine, that we their European future, and that Russia must be held to for a conflict which it alone is responsible for.

“The welcome which has been given to people fleeing this terrible conflict is a moment which we should always be proud of, even though it does create many pressures on key resources.”