Three in four foreigners not discriminated against

A MARKET research study of foreigners living here has claimed that three-quarters do not feel they have been the subject of discrimination.

Market analysts iReach surveyed 150 people from various ethnic origins and said the vast majority felt on a par with Irish colleagues.

Managing director of iReach Óisin Byrne said the perceived culture of widespread racism was not evident. “It was a better result than we were expecting. Certainly, starting out you would have thought the figure for those who feel they have been discriminated against would have been a lot higher.”

The survey was organised to investigate responses of these communities to a number of different market-based questions including shopping habits and use of banking services.

Mr Byrne said the people who responded were reflective of the diversity in the foreign national community.

Two-fifths were in full-time employment and more than a third were studying.

Two-thirds of people questioned said their experiences were largely positive since moving to Ireland.

They said their main reasons for coming here were education and employment.

However, Mr Byrne said it was unacceptable that there were still a sizeable minority of people who felt their ethnic background had provoked negative reactions.

“It is somewhat disappointing that 26% of non-nationals said they felt they had been discriminated against in the workplace, with perceived differences in pay and conditions as the main point of contention,” he said.

The iReach company said it conducted the research to begin a database of information on various aspects of life for those foreigners living in Ireland.