I have no record of having received any representations specifically from the Federation of Irish Societies recently. However, I inform the Deputy that I have taken a number of steps to combat racism and intolerance towards persons and groups including asylum seekers and refugees residing in Ireland. Following on the work undertaken during the European Year Against Racism in 1997, I established a national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism in July 1998. The consultative committee operates as a partnership of non-governmental organisations. State agencies, social partners and Government Departments and will advise the Government on matters relating to racism and interculturalism. The committee has been provided with an office premises and facilities in Dublin and an allocation of £90,000 to fund its programme of activities in 1999.
One of the priorities of the national consultative committee in its forthcoming work programme is to work with Government and non-governmental agencies to develop strategies to address the racism experienced by refugees and asylum seekers.
A revised Employment Equality Bill was enacted in June 1998 and, when it comes into operation later this year, will outlaw discrimination on a number of grounds including race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin. Revised equal status legislation is currently being developed in my Department and I envisage that the Bill will be published before the Dáil resumes after the Easter recess. The proposed Equal Status Bill will prohibit discrimination in non-employment areas, such as education, the provision of goods and services and accommodation, on the same grounds.
