The Northern Ireland Government's independent advisory body on sustainable development
SDC Stakeholders Make Flying Visit To Belfast
As part of the SDC’s ongoing aviation dialogue, a study tour took place in Belfast on 13th February 2008, one of a series around the UK.
The visit explored the role of aviation from the perspective of the Devolved Administrations, gathering information from key stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
Issues such as accessibility were experienced directly as the attendees travelled to Belfast on the overnight ferry from Liverpool, returning by air.
The visit included presentations from Northern Ireland’s largest aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier, Belfast City Airport and Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The stakeholders also heard from representatives of the Department for Regional Development, the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment, and Flybe, the largest airline operating out of Belfast City Airport. Other invited guests from the business community, the environmental sector and the Universities offered their own perspectives on the aviation issues for Northern Ireland.
A principal reason for the visit to Belfast was to let the participants hear some of the reasons why Northern Ireland might be considered a 'special case' in the UK's aviation debate. Site visits have become an increasingly popular format within the SDC’s in-depth work, as they provide first-hand evidence of issues which will better inform the organisation’s ideas, reports and advice to government.
The first phase of this project project consisted of an in-depth consultation with the Sustainable Development Panel, a stakeholder group, which consists of some 500 people around the UK selected for their interests and expertise. SDC uses the Panel, through an online consultation process, to allow our advice to Government to be informed by a broad range of expertise.
Between July and September last year some 100 panel members including some Northern Ireland contributors, took part in three discussion sessions, which resulted in provocative and insightful thinking around the issue of aviation. A summary of the online consultation can be viewed here. The SDC has found this format to be a comprehensive means of gathering a wide range of perspectives which has been invaluable in shaping SDC’s thinking on aviation amongst other issues.
A team of consultants, from Dialogue by Design, has now been appointed to undertake the next stage of stakeholder assessment which will consist of three stakeholder workshops and some further study visits.
If you would like to make a contribution to the ongoing online aviation dialogue you can access the forum on the SDC UK website.
