That racism should find no place in an educated, enlightened and tolerant Republic is a view that the vast majority of us would aspire to. Previous generations of Irish emigrants have suffered the "No Paddies Here" syndrome, so one would imagine that we should have a special sensitivity in this area.

Sadly this is not the case. Racism does exist in our country. Much of it arises out of simple lack of knowledge and understanding. From 1845 until recently, it was all-white and impoverished Ireland who spilt her youth out across the globe. Apart from the odd Cuban who managed to abscond from an Aeroflot stopover at Shannon, few ever sought asylum here.

Returned emigrants made up the bulk of tourists, and our continental neighbours looked comfortably like us. We were simply unaware. However, once unfortunate and obviously un-Irish people began seeking asylum here, in the past decade, this ignorance spawned racism.

The most important thing to stress is that we have a clear obligation towards those who seek entry to our green and pleasant land. Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out the right of any human being to seek asylum from persecution.

The 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees gave legal effect to that right in international law. Ireland ratified that Convention as long ago as 1956. Plainly we have no legal right to remain with our backs to the sea and our faces turned against the rest of the world.

Knowledge and understanding are the key to this problem. Government has a clear role in disseminating knowledge in combating racism and aiding those seeking asylum. Mr O'Donoghue, a good Minister for Justice, is doing his best to cure what is perceived to be a negative national mindset on the issue. We are all in this together.

The number of those dealing with asylum applications has increased greatly, and a series of anti-discrimination legislation has been introduced. The Employment Equality Act, 1998, outlaws discrimination in the workplace on nine distinct grounds, including race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins.

The Equal Status Act, 2000, deals with such discrimination outside the workplace. Also, the Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989, makes it an offence to incite hatred against any group of persons in the State or elsewhere on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or ethnic origins.

THE National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism was established in July 1998. The committee is a partnership of non-governmental organisations, State agencies, social partners and Government Departments. The objective of the committee is to help develop an integrated approach against racism and to advise the Government on matters relating to racism and multiculturalism. Already the committee has supported the Garda in establishing an anti-racism and intercultural unit and has established anti-racism training in many of the State agencies.

The Government has also approved a comprehensive public awareness campaign, to address racism and promote a more inclusive, intercultural Ireland. The three-year programme has a £4.5 million budget, which will be based on a partnership approach, involving key Government and non-Governmental organisations in promoting cultural diversity and understanding.

I do not believe either that we should concern ourselves solely with political asylum-seekers. We have also to give serious consideration to economic refugees.

One of the problems that has come with our great economic success is a severe labour shortage in certain areas. We may not be able to accept all economic refugees, but I know we are already beginning to seek non-Irish workers where they are needed in the workforce. I believe that this will not only help us economically but will help to make us a more tolerant people.

Apart from policy, though, racism must be confronted by all of us, especially at local level. Local leaders such as county councillors have an important role to play in helping to dispel the fear and distrust. People must understand that we cannot allow racial ghettos to happen in Ireland. Racial ghettos aid racism. The Minister's dispersal policy is simply the opposite of ghettoisation.

For years we have seen the effects of racism in Britain and the US and many other countries around the world. We have seen what it does to the victims and indeed the ugliness it brings out in the perpetrators. We have a chance here in Ireland to do it differently. It is an opportunity that should not be missed.

As racist descriptions of our own people abroad galled us in the past, racist descriptions today should gall us into action, dispelling ignorance, combating racism and discrimination. In a republic we should accept no less.