30% rise in racist abuse against foreigners

IRELAND is one of only five EU countries where an increase in racist crimes was reported, according to the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.

There was a close to 30% increase in the abuse, discrimination and crime suffered by foreign nationals, the agency’s annual report noted.

However, it points out that Ireland is one of the better countries among the 27 for collecting and registering data on discrimination. But it warns that the abolition of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and the cuts suffered by the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission pose serious challenges.

Anastasia Crickley, who chairs the agency’s management board, said the Government’s action made it more difficult to protect people against discrimination.

Non-native English-speaking people reported several instances of abuse, especially at work.

Chinese and Nigerians were among those who reported negative experiences at work, the report notes.

But even English speakers have suffered from discrimination, the report said, saying the Equality Tribunal found an Irish engineering company failed to take sufficient action to prevent a British national being harassed because of his race.

Travellers and Romanies also suffered discrimination, especially in finding housing in a number of countries, including Ireland.

It also quotes a Health, Faith and Equality study in Ireland last year that warned that standards and services were being compromised by a lack of inter-cultural training. This report found a lack of respect for people who do not eat particular food and a lack of understanding that this includes particular ingredients in medicines.

Ireland is one of 16 countries the European Commission is threatening to take to court for incorrectly transposing the Racial Equality Directive into Irish law.

Negotiations are continuing in an effort to rectify the situation.

The report says that refugees in Ireland applying for their family to come to the country are facing numerous obstacles, especially in getting clear and understandable information about their cases.

Such issues are covered by another EU directive, but Ireland has opted out of, or chosen not to opt in to, the directive that would set minimum standards for asylum seekers and refugees.

Overall, the report said, alarmingly few people are aware of their rights and where to report incidents of discrimination.

Poor data collection throughout the EU hampers the battle against discrimination and gaps in legal protection allow discrimination to thrive in certain areas.