Vol. 577 No. 1
97 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will be organising a seminar on contemporary and moderate Islam as a contribution on the United Nation's sponsored dialogue between civilisations during the Irish Presidency of the EU. [30464/03]
There are no plans to organise a seminar on contemporary and moderate Islam during the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the EU. The Government favours continuing dialogue among cultures in order to improve mutual understanding. The United Nations General Assembly designated 2001 as the United Nations year of dialogue among civilisations. Ireland played its part in this initiative when it hosted a meeting of the eminent persons group appointed to report on dialogue among civilisations in Dublin on 30-31 May 2001. The work accomplished by that initiative has since been carried through in other fora.
The EU has played its part in furthering dialogue. One specific initiative being undertaken by the EU is the Euro-Mediterranean foundation for a dialogue of cultures. One of the foundation's guiding principles notes that the values of dialogue, tolerance and respect for the other, which are common to all religions, constitute an important factor in bringing closer together cultures and civilisations. Ireland announced at the sixth Euro-Mediterranean meeting of foreign ministers, held in Naples on 2-3 December, a financial contribution of €100,000 to the Euro-Mediterranean foundation for the dialogue of cultures.
