A Vision for the Future?
Strand 2 of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and North South co-operation
Four events in 2024-2025 examining
Strand 2 of the 1998 Agreement
Event #1 – Monday 9 September 2024 in the Canada Room at Queen's University, Belfast
This first event in the series reviewed the North South Ministerial Council from a range of perspectives, including its establishment and its challenges. The following link is to a video recording of the presentations at the event by Reg Empey and Bertie Ahern.
Event #2 – Monday 25 November 2024 in the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin.
The second event looked at the economic effects of Strand 2. The first three links are video recordings of the keynote presentations at that event.
Video 1 Introduction – Brian Walker
Video 2 Angela McGowan CBI Northern Ireland
Video 3 Danny McCoy IBEC
Event #3 – Tuesday 18 February 2025 in the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin.
This third event looked at the topics of health and the environment. The keynote speakers were Professor Sir Michael McBride and Professor Mary Horgan, Chief Medical Officers.
Event #4 – Tuesday 8 April 2025 in the Linen Hall Library, Donegall Square North, Belfast.
The fourth event looked at the topics of education and culture. The keynote speakers were Professor Tony Gallagher, School of Education, Queen's University, Belfast, and Bob Collins, formerly Director General of RTÉ, Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and Chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Video 1 Introduction – Brian Walker
Video 2 Tony Gallagher – Keynote on Education
Video 3 Bob Collins – Keynote on Culture
The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was established under the
Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (1998), to develop consultation,
co-operation and action within the island of Ireland.
The Irish Association acknowledges the support of the Irish Government for these events through the Shared Island Initiative.
Launch of report on all four symposia
National Library, Dublin, 18 June 2025
Report Charts the Future of North-South Co-operation on the Island of Ireland
At a presentation in the National Library, Dublin on Wednesday 18 June 2025, Professor Brian Walker, President of The Irish Association, launched the final report from the four symposia. It was the culmination of a year-long programme of events exploring the evolution and potential of cross-border co-operation since the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
A PDF summary of the final reports from the symposia is available here.
Held between September 2024 and April 2025, the four symposia brought together nearly 60 speakers and a wide spectrum of stakeholders from both jurisdictions. The series examined economic, social, health, environmental, educational, and cultural dimensions of co-operation under Strand 2 of the Agreement.
The report recognises the significant achievements of institutions like the North South Ministerial Council and six cross-border Implementation Bodies and six areas of co-operation, while also presenting concrete proposals for deepening co-operation in areas such as:
Economic development: including calls for a joint labour mobility task force and integrated energy planning.
Health & environment: highlighting public preventative healthcare and the case for an independent environmental agency in Northern Ireland.
Education & culture: advocating for greater investment in further and higher education and expanded support for the arts.
Irish Association President Professor Brian Walker commented:
This report reflects the determination of people across the island to build a shared future grounded in practical cooperation and mutual respect.
In his concluding remarks, Brian Walker said:
"We hope it will prompt fresh action and ambition for the next 25 years of North-South engagement."
The launch event brought together invited guests from government, civic society, academia, and the media.
