Bishop calls for mechanism to prevent racism

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare, Dr Richard Clarke, has said that with racism there was "a bottom line below which no civilised society can fall, but below which I believe that we in Ireland have already fallen".

Speaking at the Meath and Kildare diocesan synod, he described a recent report from the Irish Refugee Council as shocking reading.

Not only were waiting lists not shortening, but the grounds on which applications were being refused were not consistent.

"What are technically described as `determinations at first instance' (in other words, a system of quick decision refusals), are often based on generalisations and superficial assumptions," he said.

It was the role of the churches to educate against racism, he said.

He called for "an effective mechanism to prevent all violent or insulting behaviour towards those of a different nationality or colour". He described the Incitement to Hatred Act as "a blunt and ineffective instrument".

What was needed was "a Government-funded and properly staffed Racial Equality Commission in this country to whom all are answerable and accountable - the Government itself and all the instruments of State, including the civil servants, the police, the local authorities, as well as the general public, you and me".

He felt "genuine sadness that we live in a country which prates on about its booming economy, throws money at already rich people in a Budget and then makes great play about the fact that it hopes to get to the 0.7 per cent target in overseas aid in another six years, barely having got half-way there so far.

"We live in a country where, increasingly, corruption no longer has an impact. Already the line is being taken that backhanders and personal influence were always the way that business was done in Ireland, so why should we get all moralistic about it now?"