Financial assistance from the EU and the Exchequer will be available for the promotion of equality across a range of initiatives, a seminar held in Cork was told today.
The seminar was one of a series organised by the Equality Authority. The principal speakers were, Mr. Brian Crowley MEP and Ms. Maire Ni Chuirc a European Commission official attached to the Employment and Social Affairs Directorate. The seminar considered the question of how best to promote equality with the help of EU level funding and policies.
The Equality Authority will in the future be directly involved, under the National
Development Plan and the EU Structural Fund programmes, in a number of new equality initiatives, including participation in a new Equal Opportunities Promotion and Monitoring Unit, gender equality reviews in large and small enterprises, family friendly and work-life balance projects and the identification of inequalities in the labour market.
The Seminar which was held in the Quality Shandon Court Hotel in Cork, was one of a series sponsored by the Equality Authority on the theme of developments on Equality Policies at EU level. The first seminar in the series was addressed by Mary Banotti MEP and the last of the series, to be held on June l6th, will include, Proinsias de Rossa MEP as a speaker .
Kate Hayes, Chair of the Equality Authority, referring to the organisations aims as set out in it’s Strategic Plan, said that the Authority is committed to engaging with the EU on a range of issues on foot of the non-discrimination provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty. She said;
“Our intention is that these seminars will act as a catalyst for debate on equality issues and help organisations and bodies representing those experiencing, or at risk of, discrimination to articulate their aspirations and needs”.
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