Welcome to A Shared Future - Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations in Northern Ireland
The policy – A SHARED FUTURE - Policy and Strategic Framework for Good Relations in Northern Ireland was published on Monday 21 March 2005 by way of a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) in the House of Commons by the Rt Hon John Spellar MP.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, re-affirmed the government's support for the policy in a speech on Tuesday 25 April 2006.
The First Triennial Action Plan 2006 - 2009 was launched by the Rt Hon Lord Rooker MP on Thursday 27 April 2006.
- Access the Policy (PDF 560KB)
- Access the accompanying WMS (PDF 71.8 KB) and
- Access the press release
- Access the Secretary of State's speech (PDF 44.7 KB) and
- Access the accompanying press release (PDF 13.2KB)
- Access the Triennial Action Plan (PDF 0.97 MB),
- Access Lord Rooker's speech (PDF 163 KB) and
- Access the accompanying press release (PDF 21.1 KB)
The publication of the policy follows the commitment given by the Secretary of State in response to Lembit Opik in the House on 19 January 2005, to have published the policy before Easter 2005.
Queen's University Belfast (QUB) research report by Doctor Dominic Bryan and Doctor Gordon Gillespie entitled "Transforming Conflict: Flags and Emblems" was published on 22 March 2005.
- Access the research report entitled "Transforming Conflict: Flags and Emblems" (PDF 724.2 KB)
- Access the QUB press release
- Access the press release relating to Minister John Spellar MP welcoming the report on behalf of the government
In April 2005 the cross-departmental joint Protocol on Flags and Emblems was launched.
Initiated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Protocol sets out an agreed multi-agency partnership approach to deal with flags issues. The parties include the Police Service of Northern Ireland along with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, the Department for Regional Development, the Department of the Environment, the Department for Social Development and the Housing Executive.
On 26 January 2007 the Institute of Irish Studies at Queens University published a report of a survey aimed at quantifying the flags issue across Northern Ireland, establishing a baseline for assessing improvement and evaluating the Flags Protocol and contributing to the objectives of A Shared Future. The research was commissioned by OFMDFM.
On 26 January 2007 OFMDFM published a comprehensive report which provides indicators of the nature of relationships between and within communities in Northern Ireland. This baseline report will be a key part of the ongoing evaluation of the impact of the policy and strategic framework on good relations.
