Source: justice.ie
31st July, 2016
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,
I am delighted to be here today to address this event and to participate in the discussions which will occur.
I would like to thank the organisers for their very kind and thoughtful invitation to attend this morning.
As Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration, I believe it is important for politicians from all parties, and other leaders in our community, to engage in a meaningful and open way with the representatives of the various communities from which the fabric of Irish society is now woven.
The Muslim community in Ireland has grown substantially over the last number of years, and while we do not have up-to-date information available on the number of people of the Muslim faith living in Ireland, our last Census which was held in 2011 showed that, at that time, there were 49,204 persons of the Muslim faith ordinarily resident in Ireland on Census night.
I expect that this figure has increased and that this will be borne out by the information which will become available once the results of Census 2016 have been published.
The Muslim community itself in Ireland can be truly described as multi-cultural, encompassing as it does Muslims from many countries, including, Ireland, Pakistan, Algeria, Somalia, South Africa and Iraq, to name but a few. The Muslim faith is the third largest religious group in the State, behind the Catholic and Church of Ireland faiths.
We have seen recently through the lens of world events how some people have attempted to justify atrocities perpetrated against innocent members of the public in the name of religion. No right-thinking person can condone such actions, and we send our sympathies and prayers to those who have been so cruelly affected.
I believe that it is through events such as this one today that we can engage in a process of dialogue with those of other faiths and beliefs.
Given the multi-cultural nature of Irish society as it stands, and the importance of the Muslim community within Irish society, ongoing dialogue between people of different belief systems and faiths can be a powerful tool in building, enhancing and supporting understanding and tolerance.
Through dialogue we can increase understanding.
It is through dialogue that we can come to truly understand, and respect, the different opinions others hold… read more at justice.ie