Sir, - As a Nigerian immigrant resident in Ireland, I feel the Government's plan to spend £1 million to combat growing the racism and xenophobia in this country through a public awareness campaign (The Irish Times, January 25th) is a step in the right direction. Coming in the same week as RTE's TV documentary programme exposing racism in Ireland, it is an indication that at long last the new multiracial and multicultural nature of Irish society is being recognised and addressed.
Sadly, a significant number of refugees and other immigrants have suffered from various forms of racism, including violent racial harassment. Recently, I received a couple of threatening letters from people holding extreme racist and xenophobic views responding "privately" to my letters in The Irish Times and other national newspapers.
Racial prejudice comes from ignorance. While awareness and education can cure it in most cases, unfortunately they are not a universal panacea. Therefore, in order to give the required "bite" to the public awareness campaign, it is imperative for the Government to move rapidly with legislation to secure the rights of all minority groups in Ireland, including refugees and other immigrants.
The proposal to work through the National Consultative Committee on Racism is positive, but there is also need to develop a publicly funded anti-racism watchdog (with legal powers), along the lines of the UK Commission for Racial Equality which has protected thousands of UK-based Irish people against discrimination.
Finally, it is important for the Government to bear in mind that the success of the proposed public awareness campaign will be judged by the eventual integration of refugees and immigrants into mainstream Irish society. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the formulation of an enlightened integration policy. - Yours, etc.,
Ayo Akande, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick.