Mr. Paul Kernan:

I will comment on Deputy Costello’s question on organisation. I will not name any people but will name some organisations in a positive way. The Deputy asked if community and grassroots organisations and bodies are working together across the EU and internationally. The answer is "Yes". In Donegal, for example, we are part of a new EU-wide initiative called EU-Belong, which involves intercultural regions. It is about trying to build expertise, knowledge and responses to racism and exclusion in the European Union. All the organisations and people involved are volunteers or are paid employees in organisations doing 20 or 30 other things. It comes back to the capacity to engage across many and growing demands with little or no resources. There is a challenge with participation.

The Irish Network Against Racism, INAR, is very effective. Somebody referred to sporting organisations. The FAI, which Deputy Costello mentioned, is a large national organisation playing a hugely important role in the Irish network, which is part of the European Network Against Racism. Something that is not apparent to many of us is the sort of linkages happening across the political field and the levels spoken about earlier. Organisations are attempting to share knowledge, experience and practice but it tends to involve grassroots organisations with small numbers of staff or else volunteers. It is a difficult and challenging cohort of people to be given such responsibility. I support some of the comments on resources and spreading the responsibility more widely in society.