Racial hostility is on the increase in Ireland and public misinformation is to blame, the Chairman of the nationl anti-racism awareness programme said today.
The hostility has largely been driven by public misinformation about asylum seekers, refugees and economic migrants, Mr Joe McDonagh, Chairperson of Know Racism. McDonagh said, adding that the general public misconception is that the numbers of asylum seekers in Ireland has risen sharply.
According to a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, the number of applications for asylum in the State have been decreasing over the past two years.
"The numbers of asylum applications so far this year is 8,200," the spokesperson said. "If this trend continues we are looking at 10,000 cases this year. Cases have been on the decrease in Ireland since 2000."
This year there have been 850 successful asylum applicants. The Government also has had some success in reducing the controversial backlog that has seen some asylum-seekers waiting over six months for their applications to be processed, the spokesperson said.
Speaking at a press conference today Mr McDonagh, called on people to take a little time over the next week to learn the facts. International Refugee Day is tomorrow June 20th and UN Day against Torture is on June 26th.
"An asylum seeker has a legal right to seek refugee status under the terms of the 1951 Convention. They are not allowed to work and they live in accommodation centres where they are entitled to a weekly allowance of only €19," said Mr McDonagh.
Fr. Micheal Begley, Director of SPIRASI (Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative) said: "One of the mains aims of the National Anti-Racism Awareness Programme is to encourage people to dismantle barriers and make personal contact with asylum-seekers."
Fr Begley added that people are often confused by non-nationals working here on work visas, such as those in the medical profession.
"When people see non-nationals driving around in cars they automatically presume that they are asylum seekers but this is often not the case. The vast majority of non-nationals here in Ireland have work permits," said Fr Begley.
"This view instils a low level of prejudice in the community that is very unhealthy," he said.