Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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892. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she expects to address issues arising from the Covid-19 crisis through equality measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22669/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Pandemics and other crises can have a serious impact on the most vulnerable in society. Since the beginning of the crisis, the effect of the pandemic has been monitored and addressed through the NPHET vulnerable persons subgroup, including Travellers and Roma and vulnerable migrants. My Department has participated in this group and has provided direct support to initiatives for the Roma community.

My Department is actively monitoring the equality impacts of COVID-19 and has carried out a number of actions in this regard including dedicated meetings of the steering committees of the National Strategy for Women and Girls and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. My Department is also currently undertaking a gender analysis of the impact of COVID-19.

As the equality brief is due to transfer, it will of course be a matter for my colleague, Mr Roderic O'Gorman, T.D., the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to bring this matter forward