Church leaders call on UK Government to facilitate the restoration of good governance in Northern Ireland

Church leaders have stressed the "sustained financial hardship that is being experienced by many people" in Northern Ireland during a series of separate meetings with the province's five main political parties.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Nov 2023, 16:46 BST
Updated 9th Nov 2023, 16:46 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Church Leaders Group said their engagements at Assembly Buildings were positive and constructive.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the Church of Ireland, the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in Ireland, the Roman Catholic Church, and Irish Council of Churches said: “During the meetings we highlighted the feedback coming to us from communities across Northern Ireland regarding the seriousness of the current situation – indicating the real and sustained financial hardship that is being experienced by many people, combined with the everyday reality that many of the normal services that society depends upon were close to breaking point.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Read More
Over £2000 raised for Larne Hospice Support Group
Most Rev Eamon Martin, Roman, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Most Rev John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Rt Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Rev David Turtle, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. (Pic: Contributed).Most Rev Eamon Martin, Roman, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Most Rev John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Rt Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Rev David Turtle, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. (Pic: Contributed).
Most Rev Eamon Martin, Roman, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, President of the Irish Council of Churches, Most Rev John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, Rt Rev Dr Sam Mawhinney, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Rev David Turtle, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland. (Pic: Contributed).

"We also indicated to the party leaders that this was leading to a rising sense of despair, and even hopelessness throughout the community, linked to a growing anger at the current poor state of governance.”

The Church Leaders added: “With each of the parties we discussed the urgent need for the restoration of Northern Ireland’s devolved government. While it was acknowledged that this wouldn’t be a panacea for all problems, it was however recognised as an important first step, and was something that, if properly resourced by the UK Government, would make a real and meaningful difference to the everyday lives of people.”

The Church leaders stressed that the restoration of good governance in Northern Ireland was also important in re-establishing hope and a vision for the future.

They indicated that while ultimately everyone will be living with some challenging aspects, both of Brexit and of post-Brexit arrangements, a devolved government will be ideally placed to capitalise on the new opportunities opening up for Northern Ireland in the medium and long-term.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following the meetings on November 3, the Church leaders are calling upon all political parties in Northern Ireland “to have as a priority acting for the common good and in so doing genuinely to take account of the needs, concerns and aspirations of ‘the other.”

They are also calling upon the UK Government to “urgently to take all necessary steps to facilitate the restoration of good governance in Northern Ireland, including the return of fully functioning and resourced devolved institutions, north-south and east-west bodies.”

Related topics:Government