Debate contribution: Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Debate contribution by Ms Aisling Reilly on 3 March 2025.

MLA: Ms Aisling Reilly
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 3 March 2025
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4825897

Text

Let me start by reiterating that racism and hate have absolutely no place in our society. I mentioned the disgraceful behaviour during the summer and the behaviour that comes with that. It was absolutely disgraceful to see racist graffiti in south Belfast, but we will call that out at every opportunity. Work is being done. Our officials have started work on a review of the racist attacks here last summer, including why they happened, the response to them, who was involved and actions to prevent such attacks from happening again. The Executive Office formed a cross-departmental working group, which it chairs. There is an application for an area-based education and myth-busting piece, which will potentially be funded under PEACE PLUS. That piece of work has been submitted. If it is successful, it will aim to build positive relations in our communities that, we hope, will address potential future incidents of racism.

151 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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