Vol. 531 No. 3
49 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has established a forum or structured consultation with community and voluntary sector organisations on the drafting of the Government's EU anti-poverty and social inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5727/01]
64 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the steps being taken at his Department to submit the Government's anti-poverty strategy to the EU Commission as part of the EU anti-poverty and social inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5726/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 64 together.
The national action plans against poverty and social exclusion, to be submitted by member states to the European Commission by 1 June 2001, are a fundamental component of the open method of co-ordination as established by the Lisbon European Council. Their aim is to translate the Community level objectives, endorsed in December 2000 by the Nice European Council, into each member state, taking into account national circumstances and policy priorities.
An outline format for the national action plans was agreed by the EU Social Protection Committee on 19 January. A seminar in Ireland with officials from the relevant services of the EU Commission has been arranged for 9 March. The purpose of the seminar is to have an open exchange of information and debate with relevant stakeholders in Ireland and the Commission about the process of co-ordination on social inclusion and the preparation of the national action plans. Representatives of the relevant stakeholders in Ireland have been invited to attend. These include representatives of the relevant Departments, local authorities, the health boards, social partners, the community and voluntary sector and relevant Government agencies, such as the Combat Poverty Agency, the CSO and the ESRI.
