Racism on the Internet should be outlawed as a form of incitement to hatred under revised legislation, according to a Government advisory body.
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) also wants a code of conduct and anti-racism policies by Irish service-providers and the Irish domain registration company.
The committee made its proposals in a submission delivered yesterday to the Garda and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
It follows growing concerns about three racist websites targeting Irish audiences.
These purport to represent the Irish National Front, the Irish Fascist Party and the National Socialists Are Us (NSRUS).
They are believed to be operating out of the United States and Sweden.
Mr Philip Watt, the director of the NCCRI, which last June set up a monitoring system for racist incidents, said the sites were a new and disturbing development.
The NSRUS website calls for a white Ireland and says the State is under attack from "bestial savages" stalking the land.
The site warns that multiracial societies do not work and urges people to "infiltrate power bases".
It includes links to Fianna Fail's website, as well as the Constitution on the Government's website, the FCA and the Defence Forces.
A link to Fine Gael's website has been removed after the party sent a solicitor's letter to the site this week, threatening legal action.
Mr Watt said the Government should include promoting and publishing racist material on the Internet as a form of incitement to hatred in its current review of the Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989.
The review of the Act was announced last March after a conviction under it was overturned.
He said the role of Internet providers and portals, particularly those operating out of the US, was of particular concern.
European web publishers use American Internet service providers to host their sites because of the guarantee of anonymity.
Under American law, American providers cannot be compelled to reveal the identity of the person responsible for publishing a racist site.
Mr Watt pointed to the recent successful action taken by the French government in respect of Nazi memorabilia being sold on an American Internet provider with a French subsidiary.
This demonstrates the potential for national governments to tackle racism on the Internet, he said.
A Garda spokesman said it was looking at the issue.