Ireland had "ground to make up" in its reporting on measures to eliminate racial discrimination, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, said yesterday.
Mrs Robinson, who was in London to discuss preparations for the forthcoming UN World Conference Against Racism, said Ireland had work to do because it had only recently ratified the International Conventions for the Elimination of Discrimination.
Mrs Robinson said that while there was a "healthy debate" in Ireland on the subject, there was a need to address the issue of refugees and asylum-seekers.
Many aspects of racism were being addressed in Ireland at all levels, Mrs Robinson said. "One (aspect) is much more openness about acknowledging that there is a problem and a number of different voices, church leaders, trade union leaders and others, speaking out on the issue which I think is important, apart from at the political level."
The UN summit on racism in Durban, South Africa will bring together world leaders and representatives of NGOs where it is hoped members will achieve a "psychological breakthrough" on racism, will address past wrongs and draw up plans to combat discrimination.
Mrs Robinson said she hoped Ireland, like other countries, would adopt "a plan of action for the modern Ireland".
"Problems are completely different from 30 years ago and I think that for many countries this is the reality of racism and xenophobia and intolerance." There were good practices in Ireland, such as measures to help the Travelling community and the disabled, Mrs Robinson said.
Progress on agreeing a summit declaration at Durban was "relatively slow" and there was not sufficient evidence of political encouragement on making a breakthrough.
To help encourage "moral leadership" in the run-up to Durban Mrs Robinson announced the establishment of an Eminent Persons Group, which would "build the critical mass of support needed to finally eradicate the plagues of racism and intolerance".