Lenihan defends moves on racism
Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan yesterday insisted it was "not the case" that his government department is a department in name only.
Both the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) and the government's National Action Plan on Racism are to be wound up by Christmas.
Their functions will be absorbed into a government sub-department, with a budget that has already been slashed by almost 30pc.
However, Mr Lenihan told RTE Radio 1: "It is my department's job to work on issues to do with racism.
"So many of the functions and activities of both of those bodies are rendered obsolete now that we have an office of a Minister for Integration.
"I am creating a new body called which will liaise with the migrant community."
