Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the mechanisms that have been put in place to record the arrival of new immigrants; the programmes in place to facilitate integration and foster tolerance and diversity between indigenous population and newly arrived immigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32145/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no routine recording of foreign nationals on their entering or exiting the State. There is, however, the facility for an immigration officer to record the arrival of a person and the question of whether or not to record an arrival is decided on a case by case basis. All non-EEA nationals over 16 years of age, if they are staying in the State in excess of 3 months, must register their presence with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

With regard to integration, the Deputy will be aware that Mr. Conor Lenihan, T.D, was appointed Minister of State at the Departments of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform (with special responsibility for Integration Policy). Minister Lenihan has established the Office of the Minister for Integration and has a cross Departmental mandate to develop, drive and co-ordinate integration policy across other Government Departments, agencies and services. In this context, the Minister will have a close relationship with Ministers and policy makers in other Departments.

The Minister will be involved in the development of a long-term national policy on integration which will be informed by widespread consultation at a national level, properly structured objective research and international experience and best practice. The Minister intends to establish a Task Force on Integration in early 2008 to identify key issues affecting immigrant communities; consult widely with immigrants and Irish people; visit communities; examine previous research and report back with recommendations.

The Office of the Minister for Integration will also be involved in setting up new funding lines, that will build on existing initiatives, to address integration priorities; developing "principles" of integration; bringing all stakeholders together to co-ordinate integration activities and helping all parties (Government Departments, service providers, local communities/local authorities/trade unions/religious groups etc.) to play their part in building an integrated Irish society.