Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised)
2:30 pm
Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Does the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade look exclusively at events that happen outside of the country, thus bypassing the intercultural and interfaith diversity that exists in this country? The Department of Justice and Equality is supposed to fund integration policy but it has no money in the kitty. What is meant by A4, cultural relations with other countries? Can we develop greater cultural links with the diverse communities that already exist here? They are highly organised. Is there funding available to create relationships with such communities?
I note that the contribution to national and international organisations unfortunately centres around four bullet points. Does that fund contribute to interfaith organisations, intercultural organisations or even the work done by the office of integration in Dublin City Council which has done a great deal of incredible work? I am quite sure my queries are outside the remit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade but I would still like a response.