AQO 2196/22-27

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 12/06/2025
Answered On Date: 28/07/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of the recent racially motivated violence in Ballymena, for their assessment of the impact that a ten year absence of an action plan and budget for the Racial Equality Strategy has had on its delivery.

Answer:

First and foremost, our thoughts and support are with those impacted by the recent disorder. The Executive unequivocally condemns the violence we have witnessed, and we again call for calm across our communities.

The Racial Equality Strategy 2015-2025 was designed as a cross-departmental initiative that would support the mainstreaming of work to address racial inequalities.

It identified eleven key actions to support this. The majority of these have been completed or are being progressed, with some intended to continue throughout the lifetime of the strategy.

While significant progress has been made, recent events have highlighted that there is still much more to do. We also recognise that the landscape has changed significantly since the current Strategy’s creation.

Racial inequalities are not confined to a single area, and cannot be tackled by one department alone, or indeed by government working in isolation.

Our focus is very much on ensuring full implementation of remaining actions but in parallel, work is ongoing to develop a new strategic approach to racial equality so that collectively we can strive to create a safe, prosperous and welcoming society for all.