Plan to bring back Civic Forum in ‘compact’ form

The first and deputy first ministers want to bring back the Civic Forum established under the Good Friday Agreement, but in a much smaller form.

In a letter to the assembly seen by the BBC, Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly said it would be reconstituted on a “compact, flexible and agile basis”.

They added it would help with policy formulation and provide expert views and analysis to assist the work of the Executive on key issues.

The original 60-member Civic Forum, made up of business people, the churches, trade unionists, victims, and other sectors, including the arts and sport, was disbanded in 2002 following the temporary cessation of devolved government.

Following the return of devolution in 2007 a review was carried out involving consultation with those sectors which had nominated representatives to the forum.

It concluded there was “no evident enthusiasm” for its return on the previous scale.

In 2015 the Fresh Start Agreement provided for a Civic Advisory Panel of six members appointed by the first and deputy first ministers.

It met on a few occasions but ceased to meet in the absence of ministers between 2017 and 2020.

The New Decade New Approach agreement envisaged its return, but this fell victim to the Covid pandemic.

O’Neill and Little-Pengelly have now written to the assembly saying they believe “there is merit in re-established the Civic Forum consistent with the requirements of the agreement”.

They said they will bring the proposed arrangements for seeking the views of the forum to the assembly for approval later this year.

They will also provide further detail on their proposed specification for the membership and operation of the body.