Foundation welcomes Secretary of State

The Community Foundation welcomed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson MP, to a special dinner on Monday, June 20.

Held at the Foundation's Belfast offices, the dinner was convened to facilitate a meeting between the Secretary of State, community activists, and representatives of the local youth sector.

Speaking after the dinner, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Chairman Tony McCusker, said; “We welcomed the Secretary of State, Mr Paterson, and everyone appreciated his willingness to listen to the views of people working in communities across Northern Ireland.

“In particular, we welcomed the role of the Secretary of State in posing challenging questions in order to underpin the implementation of the peace process.”

Tthe Secretary of State said; “Politics in Northern Ireland are now more stable than at any time for a generation.

"As a result we have a unique opportunity to focus on the causes of division across Northern Ireland.

"The UK Government will do all it can to support the work of the Northern Ireland Executive and those community organisations who have done so much to support positive developments both within and between communities.”

The Community Foundation brought together a range of people working in both east and west Belfast and from the north east and north west of the region in order to provide a range of views and experiences.

It was felt that this was particularly timely, given concerns over social and economic issues, as well as more immediate political and interface issues.