Statement on Fifth Opinion of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Minister Norma Foley noted the publication today of the Fifth Opinion of the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on Ireland’s implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

The Minister said:

The Minister added:

Ireland’s reporting under the Framework Convention

Ireland ratified the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) in 1999. This is Ireland's fifth cycle of monitoring under the Convention.

Fifth Reporting Cycle

The Fifth State Report was prepared by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth following consultations with other departments and relevant State agencies, and was submitted in July 2023. A delegation of the Advisory Committee visited Ireland in September 2023 and that visit informed the preparation of the Fifth Opinion.

The Fifth Opinion was adopted in October 2024 and the Irish State was given the opportunity to respond to the Opinion. It is the practice that the Council of Europe will publish the Fifth Opinion and State Response together.

Content of the Fifth Opinion

The Fifth Opinion recognises that Ireland continues to demonstrate overall respect for diversity and sensitivity to intersectionality. In particular, the Opinion remarks on the efforts made by the Irish authorities to adopt national strategies and action plans, noting in particular the adoption of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028 (NTRIS II) and its first Action Plan for 2024-2026.

However, the Fifth Opinion also makes a series of recommendations (30 in total) seeking further improvements in a number of areas, including discrimination, women and girls, the promotion of culture and heritage, employment and the Traveller economy, accommodation, education, and health.

Ireland’s response sets out the actions taken, and to be taken, in response to the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee. The majority of recommendations will be put into effect as part of the implementation of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028 (NTRIS II) under its first two-year Action Plan, through collaboration between relevant government departments, State agencies, and NGOs.

NTRIS II represents a whole of government approach to ensuring and facilitating the full inclusion and active participation of the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland’s social, economic, cultural, and political life. Its purpose is to realise a safe, fair, and inclusive Ireland where Travellers and Roma are supported to lead inclusive, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

The first Action Plan contains 80 actions grouped under 9 themes, including education, employment, health, and accommodation, to improve the lives of Traveller and Roma communities and facilitate active participation and equality of access and opportunity.

In addition to NTRIS II, the government has adopted a number of strategies that will work to respond to the recommendations made in the Fifth Opinion. These include the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy 2024-2030 and the National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027, both of which contain actions that will address key recommendations concerning the educational disadvantages and discrimination faced by the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland.