Implementing the opportunities from peace – collective impacts of 25 years of the North-South Implementation Bodies

Chief Executives and Directors from Foras na Gaeilge, InterTradeIreland, Loughs Agency, Safefood, the Special EU Programmes Body, Tourism Ireland, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Waterways Ireland joined Cormac Devlin TD, Senators and TDs at a third event to mark a further milestone in the Strand 2@25 project.

Supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), Strand 2@25 is a twenty-four month project managed by the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation (CCBC) in Armagh.

Speaking in Seanad Éireann (Upper House of the Irish Parliament), Cormac Devlin TD, Cathaoirleach (Chair) of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, said: “Seven cross-border organisations were established in 1999 under Strand 2 of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. Tourism Ireland was incorporated in December 2000. Together they have had a positive impact in terms of social, economic, environmental and cooperation. I’m delighted to welcome speakers and guests to the Seanad for the S2@25 event which, coincidentally, is on the same day as the first meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.”

Dr Anthony Soares, Director at the Centre, explained: “PEACEPLUS funding, and the earlier Interreg funding, have made a significant contribution in addressing peace and reconciliation over the last 40 years. We were delighted to have the support of Foras na Gaeilge, InterTradeIreland, Loughs Agency, Safefood, the Special EU Programmes Body, Tourism Ireland, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Waterways Ireland. Our research will critique the collective impacts of their 25 years in operation. We are delighted to be supported by our S2@25 project partner, Atlantic Technological University.”

John McDonagh, Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland, added: “Waterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of 1,100 km of inland navigable waterways principally for recreational purposes. We are also the leading provider of greenways with 650 km of trails, including blueways. We have approximately 3.5 million users of our waterways annually and we have generated value of €809 million in the last 12 months. We are proud of what we have achieved over the past 25 years. Through the implementation of our 10-year plan, we are ambitious to grow social, economic and environmental well-being value for the public good, by enabling inspirational waterways experiences for the benefit of all.”

JP O’Doherty, Joint Interim Designated Officer at Loughs Agency, said: “Our participation in the S2@25 project highlights the progress made over the past 25 years through cross-border cooperation under Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement. As we mark this important milestone, Loughs Agency remains dedicated to the sustainable management of Foyle and Carlingford Loughs, protecting the environment, and contributing to peace and prosperity in our region. This project gives us a chance to build on our achievements and work together for a better future.”

Senator Maria Byrne, Leas-Chathaoirleach (Deputy Chair) of Seanad Eireann, concluded: “It was wonderful to learn of the findings of the collaborative cooperation over the last 25 years and by learning from one another and working together it can have a positive economic impact on business north and south of the border but it strengthens ties for further cooperation and collaboration. It has been very positive to date and wishing all organisations all the best for the future as they move forward together.”

• The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a North South Body with the statutory remit for managing EU funding programmes within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

• PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding Programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The total value of PEACEPLUS is €1.14 billion.

• PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

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The main outputs of the S2@25 project include:

a) A research report on the cross-border collaborative best practice of the implementation bodies and their experience of overcoming obstacles to their cross-border operations over the past 25 years
b) A strategy jointly developed by the implementation bodies setting out how they could effectively contribute to addressing longer-term challenges and priorities shared by the two administrations, and any potential obstacles to their contributions and potential solutions
c) A pilot action resulting in the testing of a short course on cross border collaboration to improve capacity for cooperation through the transfer of relevant skills, and
d) Eight organisations cooperating across borders in the development and execution of a demonstration initiative comprising 3 dissemination events, and in the implementation of the joint strategy.

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• Waterways Ireland has its headquarters in Enniskillen and regional offices in Athlone, Carrick-on-Shannon, Dublin and Scarriff

• Loughs Agency has offices in Derry-Londonderry, Omagh and Carlingford and conserves, manages and protects Foyle and Carlingford Loughs