Asylum-seekers are being pitched against other marginalised groups, creating feelings of hostility and tension, according to representatives of a new civic forum launched in Cork yesterday to combat racism.
One of the organisers of the forum, President of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, said Irish people are being misled into thinking they are competing with asylum-seekers for social welfare payments, housing and medical services.
"Asylum-seekers are not responsible for problems of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland. People shouldn't use or misuse one group of marginalised people as a scapegoat for another group."
Mr Cox said it is important to realise that only 0.27 per cent of the GDP is spent on providing for asylum-seekers.
The total cost of asylum-seeker and immigrant related issues last year was €315 million.
The Southern Health Board spent €52 million last year on supplementary payments of which just 7 per cent was allocated to asylum-seekers. Meanwhile, representatives of the civic forum have called on the Government to set up a pilot study in Cork to promote integration and counteract racism.
Such a programme would include the appointment of a corporation worker with specific responsibility for anti-racism policy co-ordination.
Forum representatives say Cork's reputation as a friendly city has been damaged by recent controversial comments made by local politicians on asylum-seekers.
The first meeting of the forum took place at Cork City Hall last night.
Speakers included Mr Sean Love of Amnesty International, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Mr Tom O'Driscoll, Ms Chrissie O'Sullivan of the Traveller Visibility Group, and Mr Latif Serhildan of the NASC/Irish Immigrant Support Centre.