Press release
Minister O’Gorman announces the development of a National Equality Data Strategy
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
To mark the International Day Against Racism, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has announced the development of a National Equality Data Strategy.
Speaking today, Minister O’Gorman said:
‘The development of a National Equality Data Strategy is an important element of creating a new suite of Equality Strategies which have measurable impacts built in. Equality data can help us analyse where needs are most acute and what impact interventions are having.’
The National Equality Data Strategy is being developed by the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and will put in place a strategic approach to improving the collection, use and dissemination of equality data.
It is intended that the Strategy will be in place from 2023 and that it will provide a general approach for identifying current gaps in Equality data and guidance on how to fill those gaps, as well as develop standard practices in classification.
In reference to the work of the independent Anti-Racism Committee, the Minister said:
‘The Government is committed to publishing a National Action Plan Against Racism. Following their extensive public consultation, the Anti-Racism Committee are now engaging with my colleagues and officials across Government to develop the draft Plan, which they aim to submit to me in early May 2022.’
Work to develop a National Equality Data Strategy is being brought forward by the Central Statistics Office, with policy support from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. A working group has been established which brings together a range of stakeholders from across Government, as well as civil society and research bodies.
In 2023, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will be developing successor strategies to a number of Equality Strategies, including the National Strategy for Women and Girls and the Migrant Integration Strategy.
Anti-Racism Committee
The Committee are an independent committee of experts, outside of government, with the following mandate in their Terms of Reference: to draft an anti-racism strategy, containing a clear action plan.
Caroline Fennell, Professor of Law at University College Cork, and Commissioner with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission chairs the Committee. The Committee includes people from the business, education, local government, academic and advocacy sectors. You can access a full list of membership and the full Terms of Reference here.
NAPAR
The Programme for Government commits to publishing a new National Action Plan Against Racism. [external-link https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/a_union_of_equality_eu_action_plan_against_racism2020 -2025_en.pdf | The EU Action Plan Against Racism (2020-25) ] requires all Member States to develop and adopt national action plans against racism and racial discrimination by the end of 2022.
The Anti-Racism Committee has been working to develop a draft Action Plan, as required by their Terms of Reference. The Committee hopes to submit the Plan to the Minister at the end of May 2022.
The Committee launched the Public Consultation to coincide with publication of its Interim Report , and the consultation ran for twelve weeks from 21 April until 14 July 2021.
The Committee accepted written submissions, conducted an online survey, and held a series of facilitated consultation sessions (online) with stakeholders in May, June and July 2021 in order better to understand the nature and different forms of racism that are present in Ireland today. These sessions addressed different themes including Access to Justice; Media and Communications; Employment; Education; Health; Accommodation; Community Sector; Inclusion & Participation: Politics, Culture, Arts and Sport; Gender and Youth. Over 250 people attended the online events, and over 100 written submissions were received.
The Committee also met with the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, IHREC, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
From November 2021 to February 2022 the Committee held 22 informal bilateral meetings with key Departments and Agencies.
The Committee aims to submit its draft Plan to the Minister in May 2022.