The launch of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Nati<strong>on</strong>al Acti<strong>on</strong> Plan against racism in 2005 reaffirmed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>Government's c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong> that racism can have no place in Irish society. Subsequently,we developed a nati<strong>on</strong>al integrati<strong>on</strong> policy and appointed a Minister of State toimplement <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy. The Office of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Minister for Integrati<strong>on</strong> is workingsuccessfully with many sectors of society, including <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Garda Síochána, LocalAuthorities and community groups, to progress integrati<strong>on</strong> and a positive engagementwith diversity.As a member of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European Uni<strong>on</strong>, Ireland shares a commitment with our Europeanpartners to value and uphold human dignity, freedom, democracy and equality. Theratificati<strong>on</strong> of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lisb<strong>on</strong> Treaty has given legal status to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Charter of FundamentalRights, which reflects <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>'s values and underpins <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights of individualsacross <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong>. It sets out in clear terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rights enjoyed <str<strong>on</strong>g>by</str<strong>on</strong>g> all citizens of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>Uni<strong>on</strong>. The Treaty has also allowed <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Uni<strong>on</strong> to accede to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> European C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><strong>on</strong> Human Rights, which is an important additi<strong>on</strong>al human rights protecti<strong>on</strong> for <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>citizens of Europe.The Irish Government is also fully committed to complying with our internati<strong>on</strong>alobligati<strong>on</strong>s in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area of discriminati<strong>on</strong> and anti-racism. We have ratified <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> maininternati<strong>on</strong>al treaties that impact <strong>on</strong> discriminati<strong>on</strong> and we prepare periodic reportsoutlining <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> measures we are undertaking in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se areas.As a mark of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Irish Government's c<strong>on</strong>tinued commitment to HolocaustRemembrance, Ireland became a liais<strong>on</strong> country of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Task Force for Internati<strong>on</strong>alCooperati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> Holocaust Educati<strong>on</strong>, Remembrance, and Research in 2009 and isnow working towards full membership. We look forward to playing a full part in it.Tackling racism and promoting diversity is, of course, not just <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>sibility ofGovernment. Everybody in Irish society, including individuals, organisati<strong>on</strong>s,businesses, Governmental and n<strong>on</strong>-Governmental Organisati<strong>on</strong>s, has a role to play.I would like to take <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> opportunity this evening to acknowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> excellent workbeing d<strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>by</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holocaust Educati<strong>on</strong>al Trust of Ireland.I would particularly like to commend <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Crocus Project, which encourages nati<strong>on</strong>alschool children to plant yellow crocus bulbs in memory of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1.5 milli<strong>on</strong> Jewishchildren and thousands of o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r children who died in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holocaust.Over 400 Irish schools participated in this initiative last autumn and some 25,000bulbs were planted. As spring approaches, our children can watch <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> flowers grow,reflect <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> past and commit to a future of tolerance and respect.We are fortunate in having a number of Holocaust survivors am<strong>on</strong>gst us this evening.We are very grateful to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>m for bringing <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir pers<strong>on</strong>al experiences to our schoolsand to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> wider community. They have been making a most important c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> toshaping a better future for us all, <str<strong>on</strong>g>by</str<strong>on</strong>g> raising awareness of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holocaust and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evilsof antisemitism and o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r forms of racism and intolerance. They are a testament to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>resilience, courage and generosity of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> human spirit.
This evening is an opportunity to salute <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> passing earlier this m<strong>on</strong>th of Miep Gies.This was <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> unassuming, courageous woman who stood <str<strong>on</strong>g>by</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Frank family during<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir two years in hiding - in fear of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir lives - in Amsterdam and who saved AnneFrank's diary for posterity - although, as she herself said, she would ra<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r that AnneFrank and her family had survived instead. It is also an opportunity to rememberHelen Lewis, who survived Auschwitz to become <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> first teacher of modern dance inNor<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rn Ireland and who also died earlier this m<strong>on</strong>th. The story of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holocaust isoften told in numbers but we should never forget that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were real faces behind <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>numbers - real people.And we should never forget ei<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re were real people carrying <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>gruesome work of exterminating o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r human beings. Or that, today, in spite of allthat we know, in spite of all <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> horror, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are people who share <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> samemurderous, hate-filled mindset. We can never turn our back <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Holocaust, if forno o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r reas<strong>on</strong> than that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evil behind it lives <strong>on</strong>. As we in Ireland know from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>Troubles, hatred of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> "o<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>r" is never very far from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> surface in any country.In c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>, I would like to thank every<strong>on</strong>e participating in today's commemorati<strong>on</strong>.I know that many people have travelled from all over Ireland and abroad to be presen<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>re this evening. I would also like to thank all those involved in organising <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> event.I am privileged to be involved in this important and moving cerem<strong>on</strong>y.Thank you