THE recession has seen an increase in the discrimination and targeting of minorities, the outgoing state-funded authority on racism has said.

THE resignation of Niall Crowley as chief executive of the Equality Authority is a significant setback in the fight for equality and social inclusion in this country.

SOME migrant communities who “cluster” in certain areas are in danger of becoming segregated from their Irish neighbours, according to a new report.

Travellers are to decide today whether to wage a national campaign demanding ethnic minority recognition.

THE banning of religious symbols such as the Muslim hijab headscarf in schools could damage Ireland’s international image, the Government’s anti-racism agency has warned.

Class size, student discipline and pay will be put under the spotlight by hundreds of secondary school teachers later today.

The first stamp celebrating cultural diversity in Ireland was launched today.

ROMA families living in Dublin on an M50 roundabout should be given garda protection, a racism watchdog demanded yesterday.

THE number of racist incidents reported to one of the country’s top intercultural watchdogs soared by 60% in the last six months of last year.

Language difficulties and exploitation in the workplace are among the main problems affecting Polish migrants to Ireland, a new report revealed today.

TRAVELLER children must be fully integrated in secondary schools as a matter of urgency, the head of an EU anti-racism body has claimed.

The segregation of Traveller children in the education system must be stopped, a report said today.

A STATE advisory body is seeking the introduction of new laws, including a “hate crime” to combat an upsurge in racist incidents.

MORE than 800 non-nationals have applied to join the gardaí - more than the entire force in Limerick.

A senior member of the state Gaeltacht agency tonight urged the Government not to relax the Irish-language requirement for joining the Garda.

The Diversity at Work Network – a partnership between the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, the National Consultative Committee on Racism in Ireland and the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown - today said rogue employers exploiting non-national workers should be severely penalised and have their names publicised.

MORE people are reporting racist incidents such as verbal abuse or assaults, according to an independent expert body which receives an average of 50 such reports in any six-month period.

European Week Against Racism is being marked today with the launch of the first North-South handbook on dealing with the issue.

THE Government is ignoring the growing racism problem and its own policies are adding to the crisis, according to a damning report which has been sent to the United Nations.

RACIST crimes have fallen, not risen, this year, Justice Minister Michael McDowell insisted yesterday.

TRAVELLER leader Martin Collins was among three people arrested during protests yesterday over the blocking of an access road to a north Dublin halting site.

Racism is “subtle and selfish” in Irish society and lack of services in deprived areas is often a major cause, it was claimed today.

A study by the Government’s advisory body on racism has reportedly uncovered a significant increase in racially-motivated incidents since the citizenship referendum last May.

Michael McDowell said his decision to hold the citizenship referendum has been vindicated by a preliminary court ruling backing the right of a Chinese woman whose child was born in Belfast to reside legally in Britain.

THE citizenship referendum is in breach of the Good Friday Agreement and will introduce a contradiction into the Constitution, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has said.

The Human Rights Commission and the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism have called for Government action to tackle the exploitation of migrant workers in Ireland.

The Human Rights Commission and the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism have called for Government action to tackle the exploitation of migrant workers.

THE Government is to press ahead with a controversial referendum on citizenship on the same day as the local and European elections, despite widespread calls to defer it due to concerns that it could heighten racist fears.

The Government’s National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism has recommended an extension of the Know Racism campaign for another three years.

WE are writing to add our voices to the concerns expressed by many regarding the recent Immigration Bill, which has been, rightly, denounced as bad law, out of step with equivalent legislation elsewhere and dangerously lacking in any form of monitoring.

THE Progressive Democrats refuses to accept non-EU citizens as party members despite the fact that all resident immigrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, can vote in local elections.

THE Government was criticised yesterday for failing to fulfil its commitment to meet today’s deadline for implementing an EU directive against racism.

GARDAÍ are investigating a graffiti attack on the Taoiseach’s constituency office in which the words “Blood on your hands” were daubed.

URGENT moves must be made to stop false and dangerous prejudices resulting in increased levels of racism, the chairperson of the Government-funded Know Racism campaign has warned.

RACIST attacks increased by 60% in the second-half of last year according to a Government watchdog.

RACIST attacks on pregnant black women are on the increase in Dublin city centre, a support group for African women reported yesterday.

THE Muslim community in Ireland feared for the worst following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, but a year later the good wishes and interest of the majority of citizens have overwhelmed the isolated incidents of abuse and attacks from the ignorant and the racist.

RACIST attackers should get longer jail sentences, according to the State’s racism watchdog. The Government’s leading adviser on racism, Philip Watt last night called for more effective measures to tackle the rise in racist violence and harassment.

THE Government has been urged to outlaw racist websites.

A GOVERNMENT watchdog on racism is to investigate concerns of discrimination in the appointment of consultant doctors.

The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism has condemned the Vintners Federation of Ireland for threatening to ban travellers from 6,000 pubs outside Dublin.

Representatives from more than 50 Irish companies met in Dublin today to develop ways of striking racism out of the workplace.