THE GOVERNMENT has defended its record in tackling racism and dismissed claims it is neglecting the human rights of Travellers and asylum seekers.
In a presentation to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination yesterday in Geneva, it also highlighted the moderate nature of the debate on immigration in the election campaign.
“I am sure the committee will wish to be aware that none of the Irish political parties has sought to make immigration a negative issue in the election campaign,” said Diarmuid Cole, director general of the Department of Community, Gaeltacht Affairs.
He said Ireland was experiencing a steep decline in inward migration and a resumption of emigration. But many immigrants have stayed said Mr Cole, who noted 75,645 foreign nationals were on the Live Register at the end of 2010 – almost the same number as a year earlier.
Members of the committee raised concerns about the length of time asylum seekers spend in direct provision centres awaiting decisions on their claims; the Government’s failure to recognise Travellers as an ethnic group and the failure of the Government to incorporate the international convention on eliminating racial discrimination into domestic law.
Mr Cole said the Government was satisfied the services provided to asylum seekers represented the most efficient and effective means of support while they awaited decisions on their applications. He said €1.275 billion was spent on the asylum system over the past five years, of which €424.43 million was spent on direct provision.
He said the State accepted the right of Travellers to their cultural identity but the outgoing Government had not concluded that Travellers were ethnically different from the majority of Irish people.
Mr Cole said progress had been made in tackling housing, education, employment and healthcare issues affecting Travellers. Some €178 million was spent on Traveller-specific accommodation between 2005 and 2010, he said.
“The number of families living on unauthorised sites has reduced from 601 in 2004 to 422 in 2009 . . . an additional 604 Traveller families were permanently accommodated in standard local authority housing and a further 103 were assisted in purchasing their own home by their local authority,” said Mr Cole.
Asked why the Government did not pass legislation to outlaw racial profiling, Mr Cole said racial profiling is not carried out. He said there are 46 foreign nationals serving as members of the Garda.
Earlier, the Irish Human Rights Commission briefed the UN committee in private session on their concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers, Travellers and cuts to the budgets of human rights and equality groups in the Republic.