A former GAA president, Mr Joe McDonagh, has been appointed chairman of a steering group to implement the Government's national £4.5 million anti-racism and interculturalism public awareness programme, due to start this year.
The steering group includes 18 other members from ethnic minority groups, the four social partners, national bodies and Government Departments.
The members are: Mr Mohammed Haji from the Association of Refugees and Asylum-Seekers (ARASI); Mr Deepak Inamdar from the EU Migrants Forum; Dr Abdullahi El-Tom, chairman of the African Cultural Project; and Mr Patrick Yu from the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities.
Representatives of the social partners include Mr Brendan Butler from the Irish Business Employers Confederation; Mr Oliver Donohue from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and Mr Aidan Ryan from the Irish Farmers Association. A fourth representative from the community and voluntary pillar is to be announced.
Other non-governmental members and representatives of national bodies are: Mr Fintan Farrell from the Irish Traveller Movement; Ms Ursula Barry from the Women's Educational Research and Resource Centre; Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, the president of Focus Ireland;
Ms Kate Hayes, who chairs the Equality Authority; Dr Anastasia Crickley, the chair of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, and Mr Noel Waters of the Reception and Integration Agency.
The secretary will be Mr Liam Conlon of the Equal Status Division.