Rebuilding Relationships through a New Ireland: WGC Annual Lecture 2023

The future of power-sharing and devolution will be under the spotlight as a leading SDLP politician visits Cardiff to deliver this year’s Wales Governance Centre Annual Lecture.

Claire Hanna is one of her party’s most prominent and effective voices, serving as an MLA in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2015 until 2019, and since then as Westminster MP for South Belfast.

Born in Connemara, Galway, Claire has lived much of her life in Belfast and has a strong background in international development. She was a Belfast City Councillor from 2011 onwards, notching up successive achievements on workers rights and pay.

Currently a member of the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and SDLP spokesperson on Europe and International Affairs, Claire this year took part in the party-to-party dialogue convened by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, where she urged the restoration of devolution in the north.

The talk will be vital listening for those interested in dialogue within these islands, not least including the Wales-Ireland relationship, and will also focus on the prospects for the return of the Executive in Northern Ireland.

Click here to register for the event, which takes place at the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay on Monday December 4th.