The Forum for Political Dialogue met between 1996 and 1998 in Belfast as part of the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement.
The Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiation, etc) Act 1996 provided for a Forum constituted by delegates elected in elections under the same Act to consider and examine issues relevant to promoting dialogue and understanding within Northern Ireland. The Forum met at the Interpoint Centre, York Street, Belfast from 14 June 1996 to 24 April 1998.
To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.
Electoral reform, Education Public/Private Partnerships, BSE crisis, Hospital Services
This Forum, recognizing the need for more acute hospital beds in the Belfast area, calls on Her Majesty's Government to
1. fill the 280 acute beds in the Belfast City Hospital tower block before spending £65 million on providing 360 acute beds at the Royal site;
2. release £12 million from the £65 million to construct a purpose-built maternity unit at the Royal site, and confirm that there is a need to maintain a second maternity hospital in Belfast, that being the Jubilee at the City site;
3. release £29·3 million from the £65 million to the City Hospital to build the proposed cancer centre and
to provide adequate funds to retain Belvoir Park as a treatment centre.