Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the criteria that will be used in recruiting members to the Integration Taskforce; if the taskforce will include members of ethnic minorities; if the Integration Taskforce will have a statutory mandate such as, for example, the consumer panel of the Financial Regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26630/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State with special responsibility for Integration Policy, Mr Conor Lenihan T.D. has announced that he intends to set up a Task Force on Integration. He is consulting with various interest groups on such matters as membership, terms of reference, work programmes and other associated matters of relevance to the Task Force. When he has concluded the consultation process, he will decide on the membership of the Force, including the question of membership of ethnic minorities and relevant experienced personnel who might have insight in the area of Integration.

At this stage, the Minister of State is not committed to giving the Force a statutory mandate but will give consideration to any representations he may receive on the matter. The Task Force will report back to the Minister of State within a year of its initiation with positive recommendations as to how integration issues should be carried forward.