The 'peace dividend' is not being felt in the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland, according to a Women's Coalition survey of groups in loyalist and unionist communities.
This survey also pointed up the lack of ownership of the Good Friday Agreement felt by these communities.
The Coalition yesterday presented the survey findings to the Peace and Reconciliation Forum in Dublin.
Some 100 groups in loyalist and unionist communities took part in the questionnaire survey and the findings showed:
- the need to ensure investment in disadvantaged areas as this is crucial to tackling disillusionment with the peace process
- reconciliation between individuals and communities within Northern Ireland, in the Republic, and on a north/south basis was viewed as important
- parties in the south should take time to meet communities across Northern Ireland, both nationalist and unionists, to listen to their aspirations and fears
- the need for nationalist support for the new police service
- while many called for the decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons, the IRA was seen to have a particular role to play because of its status and organisational standing
- concerns about lack of ownership of the agreement and that "concessions made to republicans" fell outside the agreement.
A number of issues were also raised in the survey around identity and respect for the Ulster-Scot and British-Ulster tradition.
In addition the survey contained calls for the Irish government to consider the experience of the minority Protestant population in the Republic and there were suggestions for an inclusive approach to education, specifically the teaching of history, both north and south.
Coalition assembly member Jane Morrice said it was clear that those surveyed were keen to see an inclusive peace and reconciliation process but there were some concerns raised about its current direction.
"A lack of investment in disadvantaged areas is a very real problem for many of the community groups who responded. All of these concerns will have to be addressed to rebuild confidence in the agreement," Ms Morrice said.
She added it was crucial that southern political parties respond to loyalist and unionist concerns if they want to make a positive contribution to the peace and reconciliation process.
