Speaking during an Assembly motion from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the report on its inquiry into the Together: Building a United Community (TBUC) strategy, the East Belfast MLA said the creation of a shared society should be at the forefront of all Executive policy.
“Tackling division is one of the main reasons I stepped forward to get involved in politics. Alliance firmly believes building a shared community is the single biggest challenge facing us and it should be the central overarching priority for the Executive.
“Dealing with this issue will not be achieved by tinkering around the edges – we need TBUC to tackle underlying patterns of segregation, exclusion, discrimination and threat if we are to see a truly shared society in Northern Ireland. We are now an increasingly diverse community and the delivery of peace and prosperity will need a new kind of leadership that is willing to compromise for the common good of everyone.
“I hope the First Minister and deputy First Minister take the recommendations of our report seriously and reprioritise the work of building a united community for all.”