A group of Northern community activists has launched a grassroots talks process to complement the efforts of the politicians at Stormont. Community Dialogue will organise six or more public hearings around Northern Ireland in March and April to bring local associations, community groups and individuals together to outline what they hope to see emerge from the peace process and their reaction to what has already been proposed. The first hearing will be in Armagh on March 24th.
An executive committee member, Ms Tanya Gallagher of the Derry Peace and Reconciliation Group, said at yesterday's launch at a community centre on Belfast's peace line: "Many community groups and local people feel isolated and marginalised from the peace process. They need to be heard. They can't be heard unless they speak. It is vital they make their voices heard now."
The joint co-ordinator, Mr Ken Logue, said submissions would be presented at the public hearings to panels of political scientists, ministers of religion and community leaders. After that they would be communicated to politicians and the press. The group has a web site at http://www.megabytes.org/dialogue/
Mr Logue hopes the initiative will encourage people to articulate "which of the other side's aspirations each side can live with."
Father Brian Lennon, the other co-ordinator, said many people in Northern Ireland experienced "great frustration at politicians not coming up with quick answers, leading them to blame politicians for everything. This feeling of powerlessness, when allied to another feeling that the peace process is too complicated, is very dangerous.
"With a referendum probably coming in May or June, we have to get people away from such a switched-off frame of mind, and get them feeling involved and engaged."
Community Dialogue's executive and support committee members include Ms Noreen Christian of the Currach Community (chair); Ms Roisin McDonough of the Ulster People's College (vice chair); the Rev Sam Burch of the Cornerstone Community; Mr Billy Mitchell, a former loyalist prisoner who is a cross-community worker in north Belfast. Mr Tommy Gorman, a former republican prisoner who is a cross-community worker in west Belfast; the Rev Trevor Williams, head of the Corrymeela Community; Mr Terry Carlin of the ICTU; Ms Avila Kilmurray, director of the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust; Mr Jackie Hewitt and Ms May Blood, both Shankill Road community workers; Mr Joe Peake of Enniskillen Together, and the former civil rights activist from Tyrone, Mr P.J. McClean.