Politicians have been warned against exploiting fears over immigration in the lead-up to next year's general election.
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill, has said that "no politician must be allowed to get away with preying on these fears, blaming immigrants for the failure of some native-born to get employment, or labelling those from other places as the most likely criminals.
"It is essential that prejudice is not made into the raw material of cheap political advantage."
Archbishop Neill was speaking yesterday at the first-ever citizenship service held in Dublin's St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. The annual ecumenical service is intended to celebrate the life of the city and to ask God's blessing on it for the year ahead.
The service has been held for the past 67 years at Dublin's Church of Ireland Christ Church Cathedral, but from this year will alternate between it and Dublin's Catholic St Mary's Pro-Cathedral.
Presided over yesterday by the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, it was attended by Dublin's Lord Mayor, Cllr Vincent Jackson, as well as members of the judiciary, the Defence Forces, the Garda and representatives of Dublin's civic and voluntary life.
"It is incumbent on all of us, whatever our political persuasion, as we face into an election in the next six months or so, to be very vigilant. Politicians are only too aware that the rate of change in ceasing to be a country of outward migration - emigration - and becoming one of inward migration - immigration - has left many people confused and uneasy. It is easy to prey on the fear of the foreigner, and xenophobia and racism are easily provoked," Archbishop Neill said in an address at yesterday's service.
He continued: "The challenge reaches far beyond the politician into every voluntary organisation in society, every cultural and sporting body, and indeed into every church, to encourage, attract and positively seek the participation of immigrants in every aspect of our common life."
He warned against an alternative of "ghettos, areas of increasing deprivation, racial resentment both towards and within the immigrant population, and the fostering of ignorance, prejudice and even hatred".
There was, he said, "no doubt that those coming to live in another country have to be prepared to learn about, to understand and to integrate, but they can only do so if they themselves are respected, and respected for the contribution that they bring as much as for their willingness to belong in a new land".
Government policies mattered with regard to immigration, he said, adding: "I have no doubt that many of us have a contribution to make in these issues, but nothing must deflect any of us as citizens from making our own contribution to the creation of a welcoming community, a city of welcome."