SDLP MLA Sean Farren and UUP MLA Esmond Birnie will lead a joint
fact-finding mission to Scotland on Thursday to see how the devolved
institutions there have worked with religious, sporting and community groups to
tackle sectarianism. The initiative grew out of a conference organised by the
SDLP in April at which the UUP was represented and the Scottish Justice
Minister, Cathy Jamieson MSP, was a speaker.
Esmond Birnie said it was significant that the two parties have
together had the courage to tackle these important and sometimes difficult matters.
He said:
“Whilst there are differences between Scotland and Northern Ireland
there are many similarities. By implication, we can learn from each
other. Sadly, sometimes ugly and occasional violent sectarian prejudice
has had a two-way traffic back and forth between Northern Ireland and
Scotland. These are some of the areas we hope to consider: sport, schools,
parades, the political parties themselves and the role of legislation in
tackling sectarianism”.
Sean Farren said: “Overcoming and eliminating sectarianism and
racism in Northern Ireland will take time and it will require clear political
and communal leadership. Tackling them in a concerted way is an almost impossible
task in the absence of shared political institutions.
“If political representatives cannot be seen to be working together and
giving a lead but instead are perpetually at loggerheads, there are few shared
public examples of how positive relationships can be developed across community
divides. It is clear that at the top of a restored Executive’s list of
priorities should be a concerted strategy for tackling sectarianism and
promoting a real vision of a shared future for all in the North. Hearing
first hand and learning from the experiences of others, such as in Scotland can
only help us to make that vision a reality.”