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International Fund For Ireland

FORDHAM UNIVERSITYFORDHAM UNIVERSITY

8 JUNE 20118 JUNE 2011

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International Fund For Ireland

Stella O’LearyStella O’Leary

US Alternate Observer to the IFIUS Alternate Observer to the IFI

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Background to the Fund

1986 Anglo-Irish Agreement1986 Anglo-Irish Agreement Fund Established by International Treaty between Fund Established by International Treaty between

the governments of Ireland and the UKthe governments of Ireland and the UK Donor CountriesDonor Countries

United States of AmericaUnited States of America European UnionEuropean Union CanadaCanada AustraliaAustralia New ZealandNew Zealand

Funding the IFI

The main donors to the IFI are:The main donors to the IFI are: United States of America – $ 532 millionUnited States of America – $ 532 million European Union - € 349 millionEuropean Union - € 349 million In 2010 the US provided $ 17 million and In 2010 the US provided $ 17 million and

the EU € 15 millionthe EU € 15 million

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Objectives of the Fund

Article 2Article 2

The objectives of the Fund are to promote The objectives of the Fund are to promote economic and social advance and to economic and social advance and to encourage contact, dialogue and encourage contact, dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.unionists throughout Ireland.

IrelandAreas of IFI Areas of IFI activity:activity:

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

Border countiesBorder counties

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Economic conditions in 1986

Unemployment in NI – 17 %;Unemployment in NI – 17 %; Unemployment in southern border counties Unemployment in southern border counties

– 18 %;– 18 %; Emigration was endemic.Emigration was endemic.

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The Fund’s Early Work

Encouraging EntrepreneurshipEncouraging Entrepreneurship Developing WorkspaceDeveloping Workspace Developing Infrastructure for TourismDeveloping Infrastructure for Tourism Establishing cross-border PartnershipsEstablishing cross-border Partnerships Regenerating Urban AreasRegenerating Urban Areas Supporting Agriculture & FisheriesSupporting Agriculture & Fisheries Supporting Science & Technology Research and Supporting Science & Technology Research and

DevelopmentDevelopment

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Impacts and Achievements

Over € 753 million investment in Northern Ireland Over € 753 million investment in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.and the southern border counties.

Leverage of other funds on a ratio of 1:2.40 Leverage of other funds on a ratio of 1:2.40 producing a total investment of over $1.6bn.producing a total investment of over $1.6bn.

Fund-supported projects have helped create more Fund-supported projects have helped create more than 55,000.than 55,000.

Promoting links via tourism

The Shannon - The Shannon - Erne WaterwayErne Waterway

Linking IrelandLinking Ireland: :

North and SouthNorth and South

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Promoting Tourism . . .

The Shannon – Erne WaterwayThe Shannon – Erne Waterway

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Shannon – ErneWaterway . . .

Linking Linking communities . . .communities . . .

Creating Creating prosperity . . . prosperity . . .

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Enterprise centers . . .

Promote small scale local businessesPromote small scale local businesses

Provide practical supportProvide practical support

Provide training for local peopleProvide training for local people

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Ardee enterprise center: Co. Louth

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Ardee enterprise center: Co. Louth . . . .

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Impacts and Achievements up to September 2010 Contd

Over 6,000 projects have been offered support Over 6,000 projects have been offered support across the Fund’s programs.across the Fund’s programs.

More than 35,000 young people have participated More than 35,000 young people have participated in training / work experience programs, which in training / work experience programs, which also include a focus on reconciliation. also include a focus on reconciliation.

Around 21% of projects are cross-border.Around 21% of projects are cross-border.

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Programme Characteristics Contd

Early support for community initiatives through Early support for community initiatives through ‘first money on the table’.‘first money on the table’.

Co-operation with other funders and leveraging of Co-operation with other funders and leveraging of funds from other sources.funds from other sources.

A willingness to innovate and to break new A willingness to innovate and to break new ground in support of reconciliation.ground in support of reconciliation.

A responsive approach to donor priorities.A responsive approach to donor priorities.

Loyalist mural . . .

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Loyalist mural . . .

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Republican mural . . .

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Glencree . . .

Promoting Promoting •DialogueDialogue•ReconciliationReconciliation•SharingSharing

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Sharing this Space Strategic Framework from 2006

Building FoundationsBuilding Foundations Building BridgesBuilding Bridges Building IntegrationBuilding Integration Leaving a LegacyLeaving a Legacy

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Programme Characteristics

A clear focus on reconciliation as the over riding A clear focus on reconciliation as the over riding objective.objective.

An independent and credible approach with strong An independent and credible approach with strong international backing.international backing.

A cross-community, cross-border approach.A cross-community, cross-border approach. A willingness to take risks on behalf of the A willingness to take risks on behalf of the

communities we work with.communities we work with.

Island of Ireland Peace Park:Belgium

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Island of Ireland Peace Park: Belgium

•President Mary President Mary McAleeseMcAleese

•HM Queen HM Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II

•HM King Albert HM King Albert of the Belgiansof the Belgians

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