Launch of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, 24th of January
Guest of Honour
President of Ireland, Mary McAleese
The Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Time: 10:00 -12:00 noon
2008 has been designated the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EY/ID) by the European Parliament and Council. In the context of the rapid cultural and demographic changes in Ireland in recent years and the growing diversity that is now a key feature of Irish society, the Year has perhaps more significance here than any other country in Europe. The theme for the Year is also timely as a new survey carried out by the EU Commission (Eurobarometer) shows Ireland as among the top countries in Europe with positive attitudes towards ethnic and cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. (See editor’s notes at the bottom of this email.)
Based on the priorities set out at EU level, a draft strategy for the Year was presented and discussed at a series of public consultative meetings from October to December 2007. The strategy emphasises the importance of dialogue as one of the key components in building an intercultural society in Ireland which values diversity, equality and interaction but which also highlights a shared sense of place and cohesion. It focuses on six key programmes; Arts and Culture, Community Participation and Sports, Business and Trade Union, Service Providers (in particular Education) and four Cross Cutting Themes (Young People, Women, North - South cooperation and an EU and International Focus).
The final strategy will be launched by President of Ireland, Mary Mc Aleese in the Mansion House on the 24th January at 10:30 am. Conor Lenihan, T.D. Minister of State at the Office for Integration and Anna Lo Alliance MLA for South Belfast will also be present.
“The Year is in essence ‘a space’ in which we can discuss both the opportunities and the challenges of living in a more diverse society, but also to move beyond discussion and to plan for what these changes mean for Ireland” Philip Watt, Director, NCCRI.
Six Ambassadors for the Year have been appointed. These are: Anastasia Crickley, Chairperson of the NCCRI, and Chairperson of the Management Board for EU Fundamental Rights Agency; Catherine Joyce, advocate for the rights of Travellers with the Irish Traveller movement and the National Traveller Women’s Forum, Anna Lo, Alliance MLA for South Belfast and the first politician born in East Asia elected to a national parliament or assembly in Europe. Chinedu Onyejelem, Editor and Publisher of Metro Eireann, Ireland’s first multicultural newspaper, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, winner of RTÉ Sports Person of the Year award in 2005 and one of Ireland’s most talented hurling players, and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, founder and Chair of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in the University of Limerick.
"I am deeply honored to act as an Ambassador for this important year. I look forward to working closely with the NCCRI from my own base at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick and especially to seek out sustainable projects that will live beyond the year itself. In all of this work, a cross cultural awareness of the arts is a vital component. In Music and in Dance especially we move beneath, beyond, and above language to find a more direct access to languages of the human heart." Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in the University of Limerick.
“I am delighted to be National Ambassador for EY/ID 08 and will work to ensure that the Year helps us to both move forward with the development of an intercultural and inclusive society in Ireland and also to focus on the realities of racism and discrimination faced by minority ethnic groups.” Anastasia Crickley
Contact: Kate Morris, NCCRI at 00353868166490 or Philip Watt, Director, NCCRI at: 00353876370557
Email: kate@nccri.ie
Notes for the Editor
Find out more about the six priority programmes for the Year in Ireland in the attached document and the calendar of events through the official website www.nccri.ie and the European Union www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu.
Key features of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue include:
- Greater understanding and dialogue with key migrant, religious and minority communities
- The further development of intercultural strategies by key stakeholders, including government departments
- Greater public awareness about diversity in Ireland
- An emphasis on imaginative and engaging events
- Sustainable outcomes.
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Main findings of the EU Commission Euro Barometer of the EU27:
- People from Ireland and Luxembourg (joint 1st in the EU with 84%) are the most likely to agree among all EU countries that the presence of people from various backgrounds enriches the cultural life of the nation
- Of the EU 27, the benefits if intercultural dialogue for future generations was viewed most positively in Sweden and Denmark (91%) followed by Ireland (90%)
- Austrian, Irish and people in Luxembourg are top of the EU in being most likely to encounter someone from another country
- Respondents with an open attitude to diversity are also the ones most likey to interact with migrant/minority communities
- Ireland scored 4th highest across EU27 countries on interest in intercultural events for 2008.
The results of an EU wide survey (Eurobarometer) on intercultural Dialogue will be available at the launch of European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, 2008 and can be downloaded from http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/flash_arch_en.htm
