The submission from the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism – NCCRI – contains a number of challenging and valuable suggestions in relation to issues arising in a context of increasing immigration and cultural diversity in the Irish work place. The document is a welcome and worthwhile contribution to departmental deliberations in this area. In this connection, the submission was circulated last week at a meeting of the Immigration Policy Advisory Committee which meets under the aegis of my Department. The committee, which has representatives from relevant Departments and the social partners, is now the key consultative committee in relation to advising on issues arising in the area of economic immigration policy. The submission from the NCCRI, together with the views of other bodies, will inform deliberations on future development and I welcome this contribution to the debate.