Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 9 February 2012, does he not accept that his Department has responsibility for integration and specifically the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration, who report to him and are mandated to develop, drive and co-ordinate policy in relation to the integration of legally resident immigrants across Government Departments; if he will outline the cross-departmental initiatives he has undertaken to develop integration; if any cross-departmental group has been established or is planned to develop integration strategies; if there are any plans to assign specific responsibility for integration to a junior minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9736/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration, which is part of my Department, has responsibility for leading and co-ordinating work relating to the integration of legally resident immigrants. However, it is for individual Departments to examine and respond as appropriate to any proposals that may be put forward regarding their own areas of responsibility. My reply of 9 February was prepared on that basis.

A cross-departmental group, comprising of representatives of relevant Departments, is in place. It met once in 2011 and I am currently considering how best to take matters forward in this regard.

The appointment of Ministers of State is a matter for the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach. I am fully satisfied with the present arrangement whereby I deal with this matter myself.