Brendan Smith calls for Stormont civic forum to be implemented
Brendan Smith addressed the committee on 6 July 2021 urging the implementation of a civic forum or civic advisory panel as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement and the Stormont House Agreement. He said such a panel would give a mechanism to consult civic society and help address frustration at the slow progress on political issues.
Background of the civic forum
The civic forum was established in 2000 and last met in 2002. Provision for a civic forum was first mooted in the multi-party talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement and was later reflected in the Stormont House Agreement as a civic advisory panel.
Purpose and benefits of an advisory panel
The purpose of a civic forum or an advisory panel, as we all know, is giving a mechanism, a means to consult civic society and oftentimes get a better understanding of social, economic and cultural issues. Brendan Smith emphasised that advisory panels have been a popular feature of political work and the political process.
Calls for party pressure and implementation
He asked whether political parties are exerting pressure within their own ranks to implement the civic advisory panel in Stormont. He posed the question directly to the guests and to party representatives, noting the clear frustration expressed by contributors including Áine, Seamus and Surica and the Sinn Féin councillor from Strabane Derry.
Support noted from civic voices
Brendan Smith referenced recent contributions from others, saying Mr. Murphy of Ireland Future agreed that a civic advisory panel could be tangible and meaningful. He also welcomed the earlier contributions and remarks from Senator Niall Blaney and the committee guests.
Question of momentum within Stormont
He framed the civic forum as something that could operate within the existing political architecture in Stormont and asked whether there is any momentum or effort within parties to implement that aspect of the Stormont House Agreement and its predecessor, the Good Friday Agreement.
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Thank you very much Cahirleach and I welcome the contribution of our guests. Could I just add to what my colleague Niall has said? I think one message came across clearly, particularly in the contributions of Áine, Seamus and Surica, was the frustration with the lack of progress on some political issues. Now we can express frustration at times ourselves in regard to how slow it is to get policies implemented or whatever, but I think it was very clear in your message and just one thing that I have referred to it on other occasions that this committee was, and mention was made by all of you and by the Sinn Fein councillor from Straban Derry as well, was reference was made to a citizens assembly. Could I just take you back to, as you all know, provision was made for a civic forum going back to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that was first mooted in the multi-party talks and was very much championed by the then women's coalition and provision and provision was made for that. The civic forum was established in 2000. It last met in 2002. In the Stormont House Agreement provision was made for the establishment of a civic advisory panel and the purpose of a civic forum or an advisory panel, as we all know, is giving a mechanism, a means to consult civic society and oftentimes get a better understanding of social, economic and cultural issues. our advisory panels. Our advisory panels have been a popular feature of political work and the political process. Do you within your own political parties, again, that has not been established in Stormont, do you within your own political parties exert any pressure to have such a panel established, because you've all talked about the merit of an All-Ireland Citizens Assembly. There's a mechanism already in place that unfortunately has not been implemented to be consulted. And I think it's good to be consulted. And I think it's good to talk and it's good to listen and good for all of us to learn from other viewpoints as well. And it struck me in the last day that we had Mr. Murphy of the Ireland Future, he agreed with me on that particular issue. And I think he used the word, a civic advisory panel, a civic forum could be a tangible and meaningful process within Stormont and within the existing political architecture. architecture. Is there, I might just ask yourselves, is there any momentum or any efforts made within your own political parties to try to implement that one aspect of the Stormont House Agreement, and indeed of its predecessor, the Good Friday Agreement as well. And I welcome your contributions as Senator Niall Blaney said. Thank you. Thank you.
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