Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 15: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the activities and policy moves that will be taken under his portfolio as part of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2522/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Equality Authority has been designated as the National Implementing Body for Ireland to organise its participation in the European Year of Equal Opportunities for all.

The Equality Authority in its role of National Implementing Body is responsible for defining the national strategy and priorities of the Year, while ensuring a balanced treatment of all nine grounds under Irish equality legislation.

The Equality Authority launched its national strategy, "2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All — A National Strategy for Ireland" on 5 February this year. A copy of this publication has been placed in the Oireachtas Library for the information of Members and it is also available on the Equality Authority's website, www.equality.ie.

The Authority has developed its strategy having due regard to the objectives of the year agreed by the European Parliament and Council. These are:

to raise awareness of rights under the equality legislation,

to promote the participation of under-represented groups in all sectors,

to encourage a celebration of diversity in society, and

to support social cohesion and good relations between groups.

The National Strategy is an ambitious programme of over 30 distinct initiatives across six priority areas of activity, namely information and advocacy, equality mainstreaming, equality competence, equality debate, burning issues and multiple discrimination.

The strategy has been developed having regard to commitments made in Towards 2016 the national agreement between the Government and the social partners. The issues selected contribute to the implementation of the broad range of national action plans developed in relation to groups experiencing inequality.

This strategy will be implemented in parallel with a strategy for the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All in Northern Ireland, with appropriate links between the two strategies. It will also build on existing links with the "For Diversity against Discrimination" campaign of the European Union. It will also make links with the final year of the EQUAL Community Initiative in Ireland.

The National Strategy engages the resources of organisations such as IMPACT, the IVEA, the CSO, Pobal, Chambers of Commerce and the Universities.

Priorities addressed in the Strategy include initiatives which:

enhance the provision of information on rights to those groups experiencing inequality,

build an institutional infrastructure to ensure equality is a consideration in planning and policy making,

bring about institutional change to ensure organisations are effective in combating discrimination, making adjustments for diversity and promoting full equality in practice,

engage key stakeholders in a national debate on issues of equality, diversity and discrimination, and

focus on the identity, experience and situation of those groups at the intersections of the grounds covered by equality legislation.

The range of activities to be undertaken during the year includes several awareness campaigns, covering issues such as work life balance, ageism, anti-racism in the workplace and disability. Conferences celebrating 30 years of Gender Equality Legislation, an NGO conference and a conference celebrating 70 years of the Constitution and Equality in the Constitution are planned for the Year. The Equality Authority has also established a funding programme to support non-governmental organisations at national level seeking to organise activities to mark the European Year and to achieve a longer-term legacy for the Year.