improving government service delivery to minority ethnic ... - NCCRI

Targeting
The need to target ethnic minority groups in a specific and focused way is gradually being recognised. An
example of this was the approach followed in 2006 to facilitate an inclusive, intercultural focus in the Census
enumeration. This was done through a series of measures including the provision of full translations of the
Census questions into 11 languages as well as Irish and English and information on the process in a further five
foreign languages, multilingual radio advertisements, advertisements places in foreign language newspapers.
In addition the Census itself, as noted, included a new question on ethnic and cultural identity. The Central
Statistics Office (CSO) consulted with the NCCRI, the Equality Authority and Pavee Point Traveller Centre; the
latter also launched a DVD to encourage Travellers to be part of the Census. All of these actions were taken in
pursuance of the aims set out in the NPAR.
227_Department of Health
and Children (2006)
Cultural Male Circumcision.
www.dohc.ie/publications/
pdf/circumcision.pdf
?direct=1
Health
The major absence in the health sector, in contrast, for example, to Northern Ireland, is the provision of
systematic targeted support services in interpretation and translation. Much informal work to identify the
specific health heeds of minority ethic groups is being carried out via ad hoc consultative structures in the
various HSE board areas. Such committees do not have statutory or other formal consultative status but
represent the beginning of a more inclusive process; something which it must be said has not been a feature of
the Irish health system to date.
Case example 20 – Health and Targeting
Male Circumcision Services in the Public Health Service
The issue of male circumcision came to public attention following the tragic death of an infant in Waterford
in 2003. The case in question involved a family who had approached an individual without the appropriate
recognised medical qualifications. It also raised issues of access to medical services and the question, in
particular, of whether Irish general medical services were sufficiently sensitive to the need to provide culturally
appropriate services in areas where no conflict with broader health service principles could be identified.
The Department of Health and Children commissioned a report, delivered in 2006. 227 It recommended that
‘cultural male circumcision’ should be provided in the Irish Health Service by appropriately trained persons.
Medical staff who had an ethical objection to the procedure should be given the right not to be asked to be
involved; parental consent should be mandatory and the operation should be carried out in the first year of the
child’s life, preferably in the second six months. It was also recommended that the HSE should provide the
service at regional level in accordance with demand. The welfare of the child is identified as the paramount
issue.
The report of the Department of Health and Children contains the following interesting comment:
“ This report is not concerned with the medical arguments for and against male
circumcision. The report is about male circumcision for cultural and/or religious
reasons. Male circumcision is standard practice in Orthodox, Jewish society, in Muslim
communities, and in many African Christian groups. In recent years, there has been a
growing request for cultural circumcision to be available in Irish public hospital service.”