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	Intercultural education is based on respect for human diversity and is a philosophy that acknowledges and values the <strong>distinctive qualities of all cultures </strong>within the framework of universal human rights. It promotes a model of cultural exchange between different cultural groups within the multi-ethnic diverse modern society and <strong>promotes equality of access and tolerance</strong> of all cultural groups in a society. The Irish government has had a commitment to an intercultural model of diversity since the late 1990s.&nbsp;</p>
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	<strong>Interculturalism</strong> fundamentally requires both the citizen and the society to be open to the possibility of intercultural exchange and a willingness to engage in dialogue. This dialogue<strong> is a two way process</strong>, where members of the &lsquo;host&rsquo; community and the &lsquo;new&rsquo; community engage with each other to create a process which finds both a <strong>commonality of values</strong> but also respects cultural difference. &nbsp;</p>
