Shared Island Initiative Newsletter
This newsletter provides subscribers with updates on the Government's Shared Island initiative that was launched by Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD in October 2020 to enhance cross-border cooperation, connection and mutual understanding, engaging with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
In this edition you will find updates on the Shared Island Dialogue series, news on the latest research announcements and the Shared Island commitments under the renewed NDP.
If you no longer wish to receive these updates you can unsubscribe from this list.
If you missed our last Newsletter, it can be read here.
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Shared Island Dialogue series
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The Shared Island Dialogue series continued this quarter with a Dialogue event on "Learning from each other: The future of education on a shared island" earlier this month.
Over the summer, we published a number of reports from previous Shared Island Dialogues in the series. We’ve included highlights and reports from these Dialogues below, and further reports and details on the Dialogue series are available on the Shared Island website here.
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Learning from each other: The future of education on a shared island
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Over 130 education stakeholders and civil society representatives from North and South took part to discuss opportunities, as well as challenges, for deeper cooperation on the island across a range of education, higher and further education, skills and research areas.
The Dialogue took place over two sessions focused on primary and post-primary education as well as higher and further education and research on the island.
Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD delivered the opening address for the Dialogue session on Primary and Post-Primary Education where she announced the launch of a research partnership between the Shared Island unit and the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (further information below).
Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins, TD, opened the Dialogue session on higher and further education and research.
Discussions in the session on primary and post-primary education focused on innovative connections by young people on the island and on addressing educational underachievement. All-island cooperation on education, including through the Middletown Centre for Autism, was also highlighted in this session.
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Examples of existing all-island cooperation on education including at the Middletown Centre for Autism and the Our Identity – Cross Border Project.
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Attendees also heard from researchers and academics across the island who collaborate regularly on a North/South basis to share expertise and enhance research capability on the island across a range of research areas.
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North/South research on the island - some examples of existing and successful cross-border research partnerships on the island.
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The panel discussions from both sessions of the Dialogue and the Minister addresses can be watched back online here.
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Working together for a healthier island
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Over 120 people from across the island came together for the Shared Island Dialogue on Health which explored ideas about how we can increase cross-border cooperation in the sector
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On 8 July 2021, over 120 people from North and South took part in the online Shared Island Dialogue on Health – Working together for a healthier island.
The Dialogue brought together patient representatives, advocates, clinicians, practitioners and other health sector stakeholders to share their perspectives on cross-border cooperation in the sector and on how this can be developed further.
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Building back together: Economic recovery on a shared island
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Over 140 people from across the island took part in the Shared Island Dialogue on 2 June to discuss economic recovery on the island.
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Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD opened the Shared Island Dialogue on the all-island economy which took place online on 2 June 2021. This was followed by a discussion with attendees on the post-pandemic recovery for the economy.
Building back together: Economic recovery on a shared island brought together 140 people, from North and South, involved in business, enterprise and innovation to examine the economic opportunities and challenges facing the island.
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Equality on a Shared Island
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Over 100 activists and stakeholders from North and South came together online on 10 May 2021 to discuss equality and rights issues on the island.
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More than 100 equality and inclusivity activists, campaigners and representative groups from across all communities and traditions on the island came together online for the Shared Island Dialogue on Equality on a Shared Island on 10 May 2021. Discussion focused on the equality provisions of the Good Friday Agreement and current progress of the equality and rights agenda on the island. |
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The Shared Island unit is progressing a comprehensive research programme to provide high quality, evidence-based analysis across a range of areas to inform Government policy priorities and public discussion on building a shared island and consensus around a shared future.
Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to the strategic challenges facing the island are key objectives of the programme.
The Shared Island unit is working with government departments and agencies on research priorities, and partnering with organisations including the Economic and Social Research Institute, the National Economic and Social Council, the Irish Research Council in delivering the research programme.
Further information, including research material published to date, is available here.
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North-South Research Programme
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***Application Deadline extended to 8 November 2021***
Due to significant interest and demand, the application deadline for funding under the North/South Research Programme has been extended to 8 November.
The North-South Research Programme, announced by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD in July, aims to support the deepening of links between higher education institutions, researchers and research communities.
Funded through the Shared Island Fund, the programme is a collaborative scheme and is being delivered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science (DFHERIS).
The programme will support collaborative research, innovation and development between individuals, research teams (in and between disciplines) as well as between higher education institutions on the island. The programme will support research which will be of economic and social benefit to the island of Ireland.
Further details on the programme, including instructions on how to apply are available here.
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Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris announced €40m in Shared Island funding for a flagship North-South research programme
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At the Shared Island Dialogue on education on 1 October, Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD announced the partnership between the Shared Island unit and the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS), on a call for research to be undertaken over 2021-2022.
The SCoTENS Shared Island research provides funding for up to four projects on teacher education, across two areas:
- Enhancing educational attainment: sharing experience and learning on a shared island.
- How we teach: acknowledging, understanding and learning from others on a shared island
Research will contribute to enhanced understanding and inform professional and policy development considerations on a shared island basis.
Further information and details on how to apply can be found here.
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The SCoTENS Shared Island research will contribute to enhanced understanding and inform professional and policy development considerations on a shared island basis.
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National Development Plan 2021-2030
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As subscribers will know from the news alert sent last week, on 4 October, the Government launched the renewed National Development Plan 2021-2030.
As part of the plan, the Government announced significant additional funding and an increased level of ambition for collaborative cross-border investment on the Shared Island.
Over €3.5 billion will be delivered for investment in North/South projects through the extended Shared Island Fund, the Project Ireland 2040 funds, the government’s annual funding for North/South cooperation and the PEACE PLUS programme 2021-27, delivered with the Northern Ireland Executive, UK Government and European Union.
The plan includes a doubling of the Shared Island Fund to €1bn out to 2030 and an ambitious programme of investment that will present significant business opportunities North and South.
Investment priorities under the renewed NDP include:
- the creation of an island-wide greenway network, linking the Atlantic coast with the Eastern seaboard
- enhanced all-island rail connectivity including the introduction of an hourly rail service on the Dublin-Belfast line
- coordinated investment to roll-out Electric Vehicle charging networks across the island
- enhancing support for enterprise development on an all-island basis
- funding for all-island climate actions
- delivery of the €40m North/South Research Programme and creation of new all-island research centres
- further develop third-level education infrastructure in the North West region
- progressing new cross-border built and natural heritage initiatives, including a focus on the culture and heritage of minority communities in the border counties
This ambitious and innovative programme for public investment will be delivered through all-island partnerships, in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Executive, including through the North South Ministerial Council; with the UK Government; European Union, and local authority partners to build a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island, for all communities and traditions.
More information on the Shared Island priorities under the new National Development Plan is available here.
You can download the Shared Island chapter of the Plan here.
You can find out about Shared Island Fund announcements that have been made so far here.
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