The Equality Authority has confirmed it is looking into the placing of an accommodation advertisement in a Galway newspaper this week which stated "no coloured".
The advertisement was last night condemned by an anti-racist group which claimed there was a discrimination problem in the private rented sector in the Galway area.
The advertisement for a house in Knocknacarra was placed by City Property Services and appeared in Tuesday's Connacht Sentinel. It read: "4 Bedroom House, no coloured, Fully furnished."
Equality Authority chief executive, Mr Niall Crowley said last night the advert should be re-advertised immediately "in a manner which doesn't communicate any intention to discriminate. That is the key action required by the company.
"We will be looking into the matter and, if it is covered by the legislation, we will seek appropriate action from both the property company and the newspaper in relation to the legislation."
Mr Michael Fahey of City Property Services in Galway described the use of the words "no coloured" as "a misprint". He said it was not the fault of the newspaper and added: "It is a misprint. The advertisement was submitted by us. A mistake happened, but I do not know where."
He said he had "many coloured people in different properties".
The newspaper apologised for the advertisement. In a statement, Mr David O'Brien, the general manager of the Connacht Tribune group, which includes the Sentinel, said the advertisement had been "printed in error". "We accept that the advertisement should not have been published. It does not reflect the attitudes and values of the Connacht Sentinel. We apologise for any offence that this advertisement may have caused."
Mr Peter Butler of Galway One World group called on the property company to print an immediate apology, but said he wasn't surprised.He said there were several cases where houses were "already let" when non-white people applied. Some of those turned down later asked friends to check the houses, only to discover they were still available.
"This is the very ugly side of racism and discrimination in Galway. "It is commonplace. Non-white people feel accommodation is not available to them unless they can get around this invisible barrier."