Comparative Study Visit: Conflict Resolution, The Irish Experience and International Experiences, Dublin and Belfast, 19-23 April 2015

DPI carried out a five day comparative study visit to Ireland last week, exploring the peace process in Northern Ireland and in particular the role played by international parties. Participants in the visit included members of Turkey’s Wise Persons Committee, as well as high level journalists, civil society leaders, policy advisers and academics. The visit was hosted by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and took place in Dublin, Dundalk and Belfast, where key actors from the Good Friday Agreement were met with including Former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and Chair of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations Senator George Mitchell, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, numerous MLAs and TDs, Irish and British government officials, former prisoners and other actors from the process in Ireland. Roundtable Meetings took place at the Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament), the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Northern Ireland Assembly, Stormont House (Northern Ireland Office of the British Government) in addition to a visit to Belfast’s interface areas. The visit was also attended by, and included a dinner reception hosted by the Turkish Ambassador to Ireland Necip Eguz, as well as by the former British Ambassador to Turkey and to Ireland, Sir David Reddaway.