Gardai are to receive increased training in anti-racism and attitudes to ethnic minority groups as part of a new policy on policing in a multi-ethnic society.
The Garda's management is drawing up policy on the relationship between the force and the expanding immigrant community, based on a series of seminars which end in Dublin today.
At yesterday's seminar, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of administration, Mr Joe Egan, said the i Garda aimed to provide services "that are applicable and accessible to all regardless of ethnic background".
The force would work with other State agencies to reduce racism and race crime, he said, adding: "If minorities are subjected to oppressive or unequal treatment, the fabric of society is threatened. Individuals suffer, ethnic conflicts arise and violence erupts and the framework of civil society may be severely damaged."
Policing in a multi-ethnic society placed special demands on police, he said, and the Garda Siochana had to undertake to carry out its duties with "courtesy, integrity, patience and even-handedness".
He said: "In carrying out criminal investigations care must be taken that no embarrassment or humiliation is caused to individuals. It is important that members are aware of the sensitivities and customs of ethnic minorities to avoid giving unintentional offence."
The seminar, attended by 40 gardai, heard from English police about their experiences in policing areas of ethnic diversity.
Chief Insp Chris Dale, based in Lambeth, London told the seminar about a "community consultation" initiative undertaken in his division, which has one of the most diverse ethnic populations in Britain.
As part of the programme, police had begun making contact with ethnic groups through mail shots and holding regular meetings with community, church and ethnically-based groups.
After the recent series of bomb attacks in London, including the bombing in Brixton which is beside Lambeth Division, the police had used this community consultation process both to help the investigation and to reassure members of minority groups.
He said that since the report into the murder of the black teenager Stephen Lawrence, the number of reports about racially-motivated crimes had increased by "hundreds of per cent" in London.
Two members of the Association of Refugee and Asylum-seekers in Ireland addressed the gardai about the experiences of refugees seeking asylum.
Mr Kensika Monshengwo, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, invited gardai to adopt the role of members of an Irish political party who had been forced into exile after a coup and were seeking asylum in his country.
Each officer was given a job description and an allowance of possessions which could be taken. They were then invited to present their case for asylum before the authorities.
Mr Monshengwo and his associate, Mr Mohammed Haji, from Somalia, have already addressed gardai in Store Street station about the experiences of refugees in Ireland.