From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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The Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, has today announced the publication of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) 2023-2027. The government has developed an implementation plan for the NAPAR’s first year.
Speaking at the launch of the plan today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said:
“We all have a responsibility to confront racism. The government too has a lead role to play in creating a fair, equal and inclusive society. This Plan is about ensuring that everyone, regardless of colour, background or ethnicity, is respected as an individual and judged by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin or their appearance. Anyone from a minority ethnic or bi-racial background can experience racism. In some cases it is not malicious but can still make you feel different or diminished, but in other cases it’s very deliberate and intended to cause hurt or offence. The National Action Plan against Racism is about cross-government actions to make racism less acceptable and to promote inclusion.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said:
“I am delighted to help launch the National Action Plan Against Racism today, the end product of many months of tireless work on the part of the independent Anti-Racism Committee. The actions in this plan are ambitious, but a society that is determined to be inclusive should be ambitious in tackling racism. I hope that with the implementation of this plan, Ireland will be seen as a welcoming place, where people can live free of discrimination, with equal opportunities for all.”
Minister Joe O’Brien said:
“I want to thank the Anti-Racism Committee for their tireless efforts on this project. The National Action Plan Against Racism is the culmination of two years of hard work, and I am very happy to be able to publish it today.
"The actions in the plan aim to create a more inclusive Ireland, where everyone feels safe to live their own lives. Implementation of the plan will be led by government departments, local authorities and agencies, and work is already underway, with a number of actions already being implemented. The plan proposes tangible ways in which we can all make a difference in our society, and I will be encouraging my colleagues to embrace it.”
The Chair of the Anti-Racism Committee, Professor Emerita Caroline Fennell said:
“I am delighted to see the publication of the National Action Plan. The openness and generosity of Committee members in carrying out this work was remarkable, as was the willingness of civil society and community organisations to engage with the Committee’s work. This shows that Ireland has a real appetite for change. The National Action Plan Against Racism will make Ireland a better society for all, where every person has an opportunity to reach their full potential and live a fulfilled life in safety and health.”
The plan proposes actions to help make Ireland a place in which the impacts of racism are fully acknowledged and actively addressed. It was developed by an independent Anti-Racism Committee established by Charles Flanagan, then Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister of State David Stanton in 2020.
Minister O’Brien is also announcing the creation of the Ireland Against Racism Fund, which will include up to €1 million in funding for both local and regional/national projects which have a specific focus on anti-racism.
In line with a recommendation in the NAPAR, an independent Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism will also be appointed to monitor implementation of the plan.
The National Action Plan Against Racism can be found below.
Access the Committee’s interim report. Sign-off of the National Action Plan Against Racism completed the work of the committee.
The Ireland Against Racism Fund (IARF) will provide funding for both national/regional projects and local initiatives that aim to combat racism and foster racial equality and community cohesion, in order to support the implementation of the NAPAR.
