Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
56. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the report of the Anti-Racism Committee will be published, including the way he intends to implement its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15305/22]
View answerI understand that I will receive a draft National Action Plan Against Racism from the independent Anti-Racism Committee in the next few weeks.
The National Anti-Racism Committee was established by Government in 2020 to develop a National Action Plan Against Racism. The publication of the Action Plan, when completed and adopted by Government, will fulfil a key commitment within the Programme for Government.
On 21 April 2021, I was pleased to publish the Anti-Racism Committee’s Interim Report, which set out the Committee’s initial ideas and plans for developing the National Action Plan Against Racism.
On the same day as the publication of the Interim Report, the Committee launched the public consultation phase of its work. During this phase, the Committee accepted written submissions, conducted an online survey, and held a series of consultation sessions with stakeholders in order better to understand the nature and different forms of racism that are present in Ireland today, and to help generate effective responses to it.
Having completed its public consultation, the Anti-Racism Committee is now engaged in the preparation of the National Action Plan Against Racism. My Department is supporting the Committee in its drafting of the Plan, and the Committee aims to submit it to me in the coming weeks. I then intend to bring this Plan to Government and, subject to the agreement of the Government, publish it.
The implementation of the Plan will require action across all Government Departments and Public Bodies, including Local Authorities. The private and not-for-profit sectors - including the community sector - will also have their part to play in implementing the plan.
