A European anti-racism body says it is deeply concerned about frequent reports of discrimination, harassment and physical attacks on minority groups in Ireland.
In a report released today, the Strasbourg-based European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) stresses the need for laws to combat racism. ECRI is an independent body set up by the Council of Europe to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance.
It carries out audits in the council's 43 member-states and recommends how to deal with racism and intolerance. Today's report is based on the commission's second visit to Ireland in 2001.
The report's authors say the Republic has taken "a number of significant steps towards combating racism and intolerance" since the publication of its first report five years ago.
While there is a growing recognition of Ireland as an intercultural society, there is still a "certain degree of prejudice and intolerance" towards members of minority groups including migrants and Travellers, it says.
ECRI is "deeply concerned to learn of reports that members of visible minority groups frequently face discrimination and harassment, including refusal of entry to pubs and other public places, refusal of accommodation, and incidents of verbal harassment and even physical attacks on the streets.
"There is a tendency to perceive all members of such minorities as asylum-seekers and to treat them in a negative fashion as a result, and to reject the concept that a person might be both black and Irish. Again, ECRI stresses the need for the effective implementation of the legislation in force to combat such manifestations, coupled with further awareness-raising among the general public."
Its recommendations include:
Systematic and countrywide gathering of data on the incidence of racism and discrimination
Increased efforts to raise public awareness
Concerted action to improve the situation of Travellers
A reconsideration of long-term policies aimed at asylum-seekers and refugees
The strengthening of the criminal law to combat racism
On immigration, the authors say they are pleased the principle of non-discrimination will be enshrined in a Bill being prepared. However, the report notes concerns about legislation to combat illegal immigration and urges the authorities to address such concerns. It welcomes the establishment of equality bodies and the Human Rights Commission.
On issues which merit urgent attention, the report highlights the situation of Travellers and the need to increase awareness of racism and discrimination. The research was conducted before the launch of the Government's Know Racism awareness programme.
Concern is expressed that sufficient progress has not been made to implement recommendations on advancing Traveller employment from a major task force report in 1995. The unemployment rate among Travellers runs at around 90 per cent, with reports of widespread direct discrimination against them in the labour market, the report says.
It recommends that the provision of accommodation to Travellers should be closely monitored. It also stresses that the powers of local authorities to evict people from unauthorised campsites should be kept under close review to ensure they are not misused.
Members of Pavee Point Travellers' Centre will protest outside the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform at today's launch of the report. The demonstration is part of a campaign against the trespass law, which Travellers' groups say is racist, and which was not in place when the ECRI report was written.