The Government has been urged to introduce tougher legislation to deal with racially motivated criminal damage because of anti-Semitic attacks in Dublin.
In recent months, there has been an average of at least one attack a week on sites of Jewish significance. An anti-racism committee claims this is the result of an orchestrated campaign being organised by a neo-Nazi group in the city.
The latest vandalism happened this week at a synagogue in Terenure and also at the former home of Rabbi Herzog, the first chief rabbi of Ireland and father of former Israeli president Dr Chaim Herzog, in Portobello.
Large swastikas were painted on the buildings while, earlier in the week, the Irish Jewish Museum was defaced, postponing its 20th anniversary celebrations.
The National Consultation Committee on Racism and Interculturalism has condemned the attacks and called for the introduction of new legislation to deal more effectively with racially motivated vandalism.
"We think by the nature of the attacks that it's the work of a group of neo-Nazis operating in Dublin," said Philip Watt of the consultation committee. "It's quite clearly a concerted campaign against the small and vulnerable Jewish community here.
"In other countries, there is a racially aggravated sentencing policy whereby the judge has the option of increasing the sentence if there is a racist motive behind the criminal damage," Mr Watt added. "We are encouraging the Government to introduce that here and it is now being considered under the national action plan against racism."
There have been about 30 recorded anti-Semitic incidents since last November, including the desecration of gravestones in a Jewish cemetery and abusive e-mails and phone calls to members of the Jewish community.
"I don't think it is a reflection of the wider Irish community," said Carl Nelkin, vice-chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, "but there have been a few alarming developments of late with an awful lot of xenophobia and racism."
A resident near the site of the latest incident, who asked not to be named, said: "This is the sixth time it's happened this year. Down by the Jewish museum, it's been happening almost every second day."
Green Party TD John Gormley has urged Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and the Garda to take steps to bring the perpetrators to justice.