Written answers
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Department of Justice, Equality and Defence
EU Strategies
10:00 pm
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality as EU governments will have to submit national Roma strategies by the end of 2011, his plans for developing this strategy and the consultation process he will use. [15801/11]
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The matter of an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies has been a priority of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU. A decision has been taken that all Member States are to produce a National Roma Integration Strategy by the end of 2011. The Communication from the Commission includes a definition of the term 'Roma', similar to other political documents of the EU Parliament and the European Council, and reads: "an umbrella which includes groups of people who have more or less similar cultural characteristics, such as Sinti, Travellers, Kalé, Gens du voyage, etc. whether sedentary or not".
The Framework, as it applies to Ireland, will deal in the main with the Irish Traveller population. We already have policies in place for Travellers in relation to the areas mentioned in the Strategy - education, employment, health care and housing. I am satisfied, therefore, that we already have measures in place to meet the requirements of the proposed Framework. Consultation in relation to the Strategy has already begun in my Department through the High Level Group on Travellers.
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