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.