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Scots share anti-bigotry efforts Minister shares anti-bigotry plan
(about 10 hours later)
Scotland's efforts to tackle sectarianism are being shared with politicians from Northern Ireland. Politicians from Northern Ireland have met Scotland's Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson to find out what the executive is doing to tackle sectarianism.
Ulster Unionist and SDLP members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are visiting Scotland on a fact finding tour. The SDLP and the Ulster Unionist Party are on a two-day fact-finding mission.
They will hold talks with Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson, who contributed to an SDLP anti-sectarian conference earlier this year. After meeting Ms Jamieson on Thursday they met church officials in Edinburgh to talk about religious tolerance.
The joint delegation has also pencilled in meetings with the Old Firm football clubs, MSPs, police and church leaders. The group travel to Glasgow on Friday for talks with the Scottish Orange Order and to meet representatives from Celtic and Rangers football clubs.
'Determined efforts' A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said it was "committed to tackling all forms of bigotry and prejudice".
Senior SDLP negotiator Sean Farren said the contribution of Ms Jamieson at the earlier conference had been "worthwhile and educational". Today's visit gives us a real opportunity to share our experiences and to develop our understanding Scottish Executive spokeswoman
He said: "The delegation is travelling to Scotland at the invitation of the Scottish Executive to update and inform ourselves on recent Scottish initiatives on dealing with sectarianism from which we believe we could learn. She added: "Following the justice minister's visit to Northern Ireland earlier in the year, it was proposed that the SDLP and UUP should make a joint fact-finding trip to Scotland to find out more about the work being taken forward in Scotland.
"Sectarianism has been a poison in Scottish society as it has been here and there have been determined efforts since devolution to tackle the threat head on." "We are working on many fronts, including education, sport, faith and marches and parades, to ensure that it is being tackled at all levels.
Mr Farren will be joined on the visit by SDLP Assembly colleagues John Dallat and Dolores Kelly, a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. "Today's visit gives us a real opportunity to share our experiences and to develop our understanding."
The Ulster Unionist members of the delegation will be South Belfast Assembly member Esmond Birnie and Policing Board member Trevor Ringland, a former Ireland rugby international. Speaking before the meeting, SDLP senior negotiator Sean Farren said he had recognised the determined efforts Scotland was making to "tackle the threat" of sectarianism.
'Real vision'
He added: "Overcoming and eliminating such manifestations of sectarianism and racism in Northern Ireland will take time.
"It also will require clear political and communal leadership."
The visit precedes crunch talks in St Andrews next week over the future of power-sharing in the province.
Mr Farren said: "In the coming weeks there is a golden opportunity to restore devolved government in the north.
"It is clear that at the top of any restored executive's list of priorities should be a concerted strategy for tackling sectarianism and promoting a real vision of a shared future for all.
"Hearing first hand and learning from the experiences of others, such as in Scotland, can only help us to make that vision a reality."