T5. Ms Nicholl asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, having noted that, last week, a mother and her daughter made the news because of a racial hate crime in her constituency, with the daughter being left so terrified that she now does not leave the house unless going to school, to join her in condemning all racist hate crimes and making it clear that there is no place for that behaviour in society. (AQT 365/22-27)

I am sure that everyone in the House will agree that there is no space whatever for hate crimes based on any characteristic, including race. We must all stand united against such things. People must be able to live their lives free from harassment and hate, no matter where they are in Northern Ireland.

Thank you, deputy First Minister. What reassurances can you and your office give to people who are living in fear that the racial equality strategy will be robust, co-designed, co-delivered and brought to the House soon?

The Executive Office led the way on co-production and co-design in a number of our processes, not least the first Together: Building a United Community consultation. We adopted a very detailed stakeholder co-production approach for that. It was, I think, the first time that any Department had done such a thing. Of course, it has evolved and improved since then, and I am glad to see it being mainstreamed.

The Member is absolutely right that the racial equality strategy must be effective. To be effective, it must be co-designed and must work; otherwise, what is the point of doing it? We want it to be effective. We want it to work and to support everybody whom it needs to support.

Mr McAleer is not in his place. I call Áine Murphy.