Vol. 520 No. 3
54 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent suggestion from the national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism that political parties and candidates should sign a draft anti-racism protocol it had produced; if he will urge parties to sign the protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15465/00]
The draft anti-racism protocol for political parties and the draft declaration of intent for candidates in elections are recent initiatives being developed by the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism – NCCRI – as part of its overall aim of developing an integrated approach against racism. As the Deputy will be aware, I established the NCCRI in 1998 with functions which include the promotion of a more participative and intercultural society which is inclusive of persons such as refugees. Travellers and minority ethnic groups in Ireland.
The NCCRI has informed me that it recently met the general secretaries of the four main political parties about a range of issues including the concept of developing an initiative such as a protocol specifically linked to the conduct of candidates during elections. Subsequently a draft protocol for political parties and a draft declaration of intent for candidates for elections were circulated to the general secretaries requesting their comments. Letters were also sent to the Green Party, Sinn Féin and the Socialist Party and the four Independent Deputies seeking their support.
This initiative is modelled on a Europe-wide initiative called the charter of political parties for a non-racist society, which is supported by the European monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia.
Political parties who sign the anti-racism protocol must undertake to ensure that election campaigns are conducted in such a way that they do not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins, religious belief and membership of the travelling community. Similarly, candidates for elections who are signatories to the declaration of intent undertake to ensure that election campaigns are conducted in such a way that they do not incite hatred or prejudice on the same grounds.
