Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:51 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in the establishment of a national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism. [3060/99]
Written Answers. - Anti-Racism Measures.
In July 1998, I established a national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism. The committee is a partnership of non-governmental organisations, NGOs, State agencies, social partners and Departments and has met on four occasions since its establishment. The objective of the committee is to provide an ongoing structure to develop programmes and actions aimed at developing an integrated approach against racism and to advise the Government on matters relating to racism and interculturalism.
The committee will also endeavour to promote a more participative and intercultural society which is inclusive of persons such as refugees, travellers and other minority ethnic groups in Ireland. A sum of £21,000 was provided to the consultative committee to fund its programme of activities in 1998 and an allocation of £90,000 has been provided in 1999. The committee has also been provided with office premises and facilities in Dublin.
As part of its strategy, the consultative committee will pursue three levels of action: strategic action at national level mainstreaming the commitment and expertise so as to address racism in policy making and implementation measures by Government and into the approach and concerns of other relevant institutions; support for anti-racism measures at EU level, and provision of support to projects at local or regional level in the development of anti-racism initiatives which are consistent with the approach and aims of the consultative committee.
The committee has approved a comprehensive work programme for the first quarter of 1999 which includes anti-racism training for certain civil servants dealing with minority groups, a seminar on the forthcoming human rights commission and submissions, the setting up of a website, arranging a visit by groups from Northern Ireland, the establishment of a refugee and asylum seeker sub-group, round tables on the integration of refugees and on monitoring the Legal Aid Service in the one-stop-shop.
The committee has linked closely with developments at EU and international level and organised a national round table conference of the EU Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia last December.