At the launch of the first Northern Ireland Peace Index, Lord John Alderdice reflects on the importance of measuring peace and using evidence to help sustain and build on Northern Ireland’s progress towards peace, and how this evidence can inform government, the private sector, community organisations and the public.

He also reflects on the importance of sustaining and developing a peaceful and prosperous society in Northern Ireland, and the opportunity to build on the successes of the past.

Lord John Alderdice played a significant role in the Northern Ireland peace process as Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland from 1987, including in the negotiations that led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. He later became the first Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Northern Ireland Peace Index 2026, produced by Queen’s University Belfast and the Institute for Economics & Peace, measures peace across Northern Ireland from 2019 to 2025, including across its 11 Local Government Districts.