Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the effectiveness of the Government's programme on racism in the workplace has been evaluated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35338/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Government policy on racism in the workplace is reflected in the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000. This legislation prohibits both direct and indirect discrimination in the areas of employment and access to goods and services on nine grounds, including race. Further amendments to both these Acts were made in the Equality Act 2004, which gives effect in domestic law to Ireland's obligations as a member of the European Union to implement Community initiatives provided for under Council Directives 2000/43/EC, 2000/78/EC and 2002/73/EC. The directives, commonly known as the equality directives, provide for equal treatment on a number of grounds, including race.

The Equality Authority established under the Act of 1998 and whose mandate was extended in the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Equality Act 2004 provides information on the Acts and in certain cases provides legal aid and/or advice for those making claims of discrimination under the equality legislation. The authority supports planned and systematic approaches to equality, develops codes of practice and engages in joint initiatives with employer organisations to tackle grounds of discrimination, including race.

At nearly one third, the ground of race remains the largest category among the case files of the Equality Authority.

The authority has issued a number of policy and research publications addressing racism in the workplace, including, for example, Building an Inclusive Workplace; Promoting Equality in Intercultural Workplaces; an anti-racism resource pack suggesting measures to combat workplace racism; a series of related guidelines for enterprises; studies of migrant workers and their experiences and accommodating diversity in labour market programme.

The second arm of the equality infrastructure established under the 1998 Act is the Equality Tribunal. The tribunal is an impartial forum to hear or mediate complaints of alleged discrimination under equality legislation. It is independent and quasi-judicial and its decisions and mediated settlements are legally binding.

Government policy is also reflected in its national action plan against racism which the Taoiseach and I launched in January 2005. A strategic monitoring group, SMG, has been established to drive the plan forward: it comprises representatives of the social partners, Government and relevant NGOs and is chaired by Ms Lucy Gaffney. One of the key objectives of the plan is concerned with economic inclusion and the equality of opportunity for cultural and ethnic minorities, including a focus on employment, the workplace and poverty. The SMG is looking at how it can assist in developing initiatives for migrant workers designed to raise awareness and compliance with employment rights. The SMG recently hosted a corporate breakfast to engage with the corporate sector to promote the aims of the national action plan against racism and promote the business case for diversity. A good representation of CEOs and senior human resources executives from Irish business attended the event at which I spoke.

The sixth Anti-Racist Workplace Week, organised by the Equality Authority, has just taken place, from 7 to 13 November. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of the need to combat racism in organisations and promote support for the accommodation of diversity in the workplace. I had the pleasure to launch the week again this year. The week brings together a wide range of organisations, including IBEC, ICTU, the Construction Industry Federation, the Small Firms Association, The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland and the Irish Farmers Association. The week is but one element of the national action plan against racism.

The theme for this year is "communication" and organisations are encouraged to promote equality and cultural diversity through communication initiatives involving employers, trade unions, migrant workers and other workers. Anti-Racist Workplace Week is reviewed annually by the organising partners where its impact is evaluated and plans made for its further development. The next such review will take place in December. The further development of Anti-Racist Workplace Week is a priority under the strategic plan of the Equality Authority for 2006 to 2008.

The operation of Government policy in the area of racism continues to be actively reviewed by my Department in consultation with, among others the Equality Authority, the strategic monitoring group for the national action plan against racism and the national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism, NCCRI — an independent expert body that brings together Government and non-government bodies to develop initiatives to combat racism and create a more inclusive society.