Anti-racism group calls for tougher legislation

Ireland's anti-discrimination legislation must be strengthened to combat racism, according to the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI).

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, yesterday attended a function in Dublin to announce the publication of a report on the NCCRI's work over the past three years.

In the three years since the NCCRI was established, Ireland's anti-discrimination legislation had developed to become "among the most comprehensive" in the European Union, the Minister said.

However, NCCRI director Mr Philip Watt said: "The legislation needs to go further to actively promote inclusion and equality.

"Racism won't be tackled unless there's a meeting of minds between Government and nongovernment agencies. Simply hurling brickbats at each other won't help," he said.

The NCCRI report outlines the organisation's efforts to help more than 30 organisations tackle racism, including the provision of anti-racism awareness training to Government departments, health boards and media organisations.

The NCCRI, working with Northern Ireland's Equality Commission, circulated education packs to all schools.

Mr Watt said a "steady stream" of complaints had been reported to The NCCRI since the organisation posted a racist incident reporting form on its website at the beginning of May.

An election protocol, with guidelines for the conduct of political parties at election time, has also been published. It was signed by representatives of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour, the Progressive Democrats, the Green Party, the Socialist Party and Sinn Fein.

Mr Watt said this would ensure candidates would not "play the race card" around election times.

"It's not about stopping people talking about asylum-seekers or Travellers. It's simply being aware that language is important and can have such an instant effect," said Mr Watt.

Dr Anastasia Crickley, NCCRI director, added: "Much remains to be done and we look forward to building on existing and developing new strategies to address racism and build a more inclusive, intercultural Ireland."

Meanwhile, Mr O'Donoghue has welcomed a new code of practice agreed between the Department of Justice and the Irish Road Haulage Association to increase vigilance among lorry drivers to ensure illegal immigrants are not hidden in their vehicles.

The announcement was made at a Garda conference on closer co-operation between EU border control services in Dublin yesterday.