Vol. 493 No. 2
67 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will give details on the projects to be held under the European Year Against Racism programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15481/98]
A range of projects and initiatives was undertaken as part of the programme of the co-ordinating committee for European Year Against Racism, 1997, which was set up under the aegis of my Department, and to which £100,000 was allocated by my Department.
The co-ordinating committee was representative of Departments, State agencies, trade unions and non-governmental organisations working in the area of racism. It undertook a range of actions and projects aimed at addressing racism in the areas of education, gender, the media, sport, refugees and asylum seekers, travellers and the workplace. It also progressed its work through Government initiatives relating to the delivery of customer action plans, the national anti-poverty strategy, development aid and development education. The Ireland Report for European Year Against Racism, which I launched on 27 April, is available at the Government Publications Sales Office. It sets out details of the various initiatives and includes examples of projects funded by the committee. The co-ordinating committee has now finished its work.
To ensure that the momentum of European Year Against Racism continues I have set up a national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism, whose job will be to advise the Government on matters relating to racism and to reinforce and develop initiatives commenced during 1997. The new committee is developing a comprehensive programme to address the problem of racism in all its forms and to promote interculturalism. It will hold its first meeting early next month.
