Racism in Ireland - Abuse is an affront to our history

There has always been racism and discrimination in Ireland, but it has generally been marginalised. The most vocal practitioners are not representative of most Irish people.

Throughout the early decades, following the foundation of the state, this country was in the relatively stable position of having little or no racial problems, other than sporadic indigenous problems in relation to the Travelling community.

During the past decade and a half this country experienced its first taste of immigration as people were attracted by the Celtic Tiger economy. There are about 400,000 foreigners living in Ireland today, which represents about 10% of the country’s population. Many are now the parents of Irish citizens.

African and east European migrants have frequently become the subject of racist abuse. For decades Irish people played a magnificent role in seeking to educate people in Africa. It is something of which we can be truly proud and it is an affront to what is best in our history to tolerate any form of racism.

In times of economic hardship different forms of racism often arise as people seek to scapegoat others as the cause of their difficulties. As a race, Irish people suffered most from a form of racism, and we owe it to our history to ensure that such behaviour is not tolerated here. We have seen and even been afflicted with the horrors of racism in the form of the sectarianism that blighted the North over a number of decades. It should act as a grim reminder of the horrors of such insidious behaviour.

Irish people have availed of opportunities around the globe and it is fitting that we should help others. There is hardly an Irish family that does not have a close relative abroad. We should therefore lead by example and treat immigrants here as we would wish Irish people to be treated elsewhere.

This should be especially apparent at this time after the latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office indicated that there are signs of a renewal of emigration. Racists can be found in every community but it is important that such vile behaviour should not be tolerated. Its perpetrators should be marginalised as much as possible.

In 2008 there were 183 racially motivated incidents reported to the authorities, but there were probably more incidents because many victims fear repercussions if they report such behaviour. Those responsible for such incidents do not represent decent people, and their behaviour should be deplored. The Teachers Union of Ireland found that 25% of teachers polled had witnessed racism among their pupils.

Teachers should play a greater role in tackling racism and cultural intolerance, because the schools have the potential to turn Ireland into an intercultural society. Primary school teachers have already been supplied with guidelines on how to tackle racism.

Of course, teachers cannot resolve these problems on their own. Others, especially parents, must play their part in promoting cultural diversity as a means of enriching Irish life.