Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the make up of the new regional forum on integration; if all counties were represented in applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39275/10]

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I have established a Ministerial Council on Integration to provide a forum where migrants can speak directly to me regarding their experiences of integration in Ireland and thereby promote better-informed policymaking by identifying any issues and bringing them to attention.

The establishment of the Council is one of the initiatives outlined in the policy statement - Migration Nation: Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management - and is part of progressing work around migrant integration policy in Ireland.

Expressions of interest for appointment to the Council were sought through advertisements in both the national and regional press. Applications were invited from persons from the migrant community who are legally resident in Ireland for two or more years or who have acquired Irish citizenship. Some 500 valid applications were received in my Office from persons resident in 26 counties before the closing date of 7 July 2010. In making appointments to the Council, I considered various matters such as the need to have a balance between countries of origin, places of residence in Ireland and the desirability of having an appropriate gender balance.

Question No. 92 answered with Question No. 58.