Most people embracing change, but racism still a problem

RACISM is always a potential problem in Ireland but citizens have successfully embraced changes brought about by the influx of immigrants, it was claimed yesterday.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said Ireland had managed the changeover from being a net emigration country to a net immigration state.

Mr McDowell yesterday launched the Equality Authority’s 2005 Report which confirmed racial discrimination against migrant workers continued to dominate its files.

But Mr McDowell said: “The common sense of the Irish people and their decency is the underlying value that exists in Ireland today. We are a conservative people in many respects but also a people who are embracing change. We have managed the process of change without the by-products we have seen in other countries.”

The report found:

954 cases were logged — including 359 under the Employment Equality Acts, 358 under the Equal Status Acts and 37 under the Intoxicating Liquor Act

30% of all cases involved racial discrimination against migrant workers in finding employment, working conditions, harassment and dismissal

11,474 inquiries were handled in 2005 on the Employment Equality Acts, the Equal Status Acts, the Maternity Protection Acts, the Adoptive Leave Act and the Parental Leave Act.

Employment Equality Acts requests grew by 18% and by 6% on the Equal Status Acts.

Incidents relating to Travellers remain the largest category at 29%

Mr McDowell said Ireland has not witnessed scenes of group violence between ethnic groups in Ireland like in other European countries. But referring to an incident at the abandoned Love Ulster riots in February he said: “Young savages, gratuitously took people with different skin colour from themselves, brought them out onto the street, and beat them up. That shows that if you mix extreme nationalism with violence, you will get a political situation where some people resort to crude racism.”

The authority’s chief, Niall Crowley, criticised delays in the appointment of equality officers, the scheduling of hearings and delivery of recommendations.

During 2005 an Equality Authority survey found that 12.5% of respondents over 18 had experienced discrimination within the last two years. Up to 5% had experienced work-related discrimination and 9% had encountered discrimination in accessing services.

“This makes clear the challenging context within which the Equality Authority seeks to implement its mandate.

“It provides an important benchmark against which to measure progress in promoting a more equal society and makes the case for an empowered and well-resourced equality infrastructure,” Mr Crowley said.

“Policies, procedures and practices in institutions need to adapt to take account of the diversity of their employees and customers if they are to be effective in preventing discrimination, promoting equality and accommodating diversity.