Business leaders meet to tackle racism

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

Delegates met at the conference, headed by the Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC), to hear examples of how companies had promoted good race relations within their firms.

Opening the conference, junior foreign minister Liz O’Donnell, said race strategies within businesses were vital for the national economy - especially as the country entered a predicted downturn.

Among the presentations was one by Peter O’Dwyer of Dawn Farms Foods, who told of his firm’s strategy to integrate 90 employees from Brazil.

And Paul Lyons of computer giant IBM described how the company dealt with race issues among its staff, which is drawn from more than 20 different countries.

IBEC’s Director of Social Policy, Jackie Harrison, said: ‘‘Most companies are aware of anti-racist issues and are now looking at practical things to do in their own companies particularly through training and implementing company strategies.’’

Ms Harrison chaired the meeting as part of the Anti-Racist Workplace Week, organised by the Equality Authority.

In a separate seminar in Dublin, around 150 representatives from hospitals, nursing organisations, refugee groups and the Traveller community met to discuss differences in health and healthcare among different sections of the community.

The meeting was arranged by the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) and the Irish Health Services Management Institute.

NCCRI spokesman Philip Watt said the seminar dealt with the integration of staff from minority ethnic backgrounds in the health service.

He added that while a third of doctors are from ethnic minority backgrounds, only 2% of these are consultants.