Language like that used by Mary O'Rourke has no place in our public discourse, writes Philip Watt
The use of inappropriate language and phraseology related to ethnic and cultural diversity in Ireland is often a difficult issue to challenge without opening yourself to the predictable accusations of political correctness.
It is an even more difficult issue to discuss in the case of a person who makes an inappropriate comment from a position of ignorance or lack of intent to offend, as is often the case.
In relation to the comment made by Senator Mary O'Rourke, who thanked her election workers for "working like blacks", it is accepted there was no intent on her part to cause offence.
It is equally evident that the comment was made by a respected politician who has a long record on being positive towards marginalised groups such as refugees and asylum seekers and Travellers, both in her own constituency and through her parliamentary work.
However, it is also clear that the comment she made is both inappropriate and ill-judged. The collective groan that was heard at the Fianna Fáil meeting where the remark was made was telling, and was perhaps the response of many who listened to her speech on the Sunday news bulletins.
While it is important to put this incident into perspective as something at the lower end of general concerns, it nevertheless highlights the fact that what may have been generally accepted in public discourse 20 or 30 years ago is no longer accepted or acceptable. Further, anyone in a senior public position who uses such phraseology, however inadvertently, will likely find themselves open to some public and media criticism.
Use of language and phraseology are important. They are not static concepts, as they change over time. On the one hand, no one deserves to be lambasted for getting language wrong, particularly where there is no intent, but on the other hand there is increasingly less excuse for using such language no matter what the circumstances.
Language is important in building a more inclusive Ireland. In this context there is a need to ensure that as well as more awareness on the impact of an inappropriate phrase, there could be a stronger focus on combating deliberately offensive language and discourse that sometimes occurs in public places.
I was recently in contact with a colleague who works in the United Nations who had returned to Geneva after a meeting in Ireland. She expressed surprise at the fact that her (different) taxi drivers on both her inward and outward journeys to Dublin airport had complained loudly, openly and without prompting about Nigerians and Travellers.
She was further concerned about the impression that such discourse would give to other visitors to Ireland.
As part of my job, I regularly receive reports about verbal abuse that is directed against people from minority ethnic communities in Ireland. While it is important not to exaggerate the number of these reports, there are nevertheless a number of patterns emerging.
Many reports show that the victims of verbal abuse motivated by racism are often people in vulnerable situations. For example, the report of a mother walking with young children being subjected to racist comments; a student from a minority ethnic group and on their own being confronted by a number of youths, or being taunted by the occupants of a car kerb-crawling along a darkened street.
It is to be welcomed that there have been a number of convictions for such crimes in recent months under the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and the Public Order Act. It is further to be welcomed that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has recently commissioned the University of Limerick to carry out research into this area of concern under the National Action Plan Against Racism.
When considering the broader issue of the use of language it is perhaps also timely to look at the application of terminology. For example, it has increasingly become accepted to use the term "non-nationals" when describing non-Irish citizens living in Ireland.
This term is both inaccurate and misleading. There are very few people living in Ireland who do not have a nationality and the vast majority of recent immigrants to Ireland are living here legally (although the term "non-nationals" could be construed as implying otherwise). While there is no phrase that is perfect in this context, at the very least the term "non-Irish nationals" is preferable, or perhaps more inclusive terminology might be used/interchanged such as "recent migrants to Ireland" or "new communities in Ireland".
Language and phraseology in all forms plays an important role in deciding whether we are building an exclusive or more inclusive intercultural society in Ireland. Anachronistic phraseology, whether intentional or otherwise, has no place in public discourse and needs to be continually challenged, whether the original motivation was intentional or not.
We need to review our legislation to consider whether there is sufficient protection against crime motivated by racism, including verbal abuse and harassment. We need to increase awareness through public education programmes. We need to revise and replace some of the terms that have been perhaps lazily given widespread usage such as "non-nationals". The recently published Government National Action Plan Against Racism provides a useful framework to address these issues further.
Philip Watt is director of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism www.nccri.ie