Ignorance of other peoples' cultures can often give rise to confusion and even fuel antagonism towards asylum-seekers and refugees. Many countries have customs around childbirth, marriage and other social occasions which are unfamiliar in Ireland.
In a recent case in Co Clare, a Nigerian family celebrating the birth of a child killed an animal in the back garden of a housing estate and drained its blood in preparation for a celebratory feast, or "naming" ceremony. The reaction of the neighbours led to the family leaving the estate.
This is an extreme example of the types of cultural gap which are sure to arise with the increased numbers of asylum-seekers and refugees in Ireland.
The Irish Refugee Council said the Government's plans to disperse asylum-seekers in towns and villages outside Dublin must be accompanied by a programme of orientation.
"What we should be aiming for is trying to short-circuit natural cultural misunderstandings that can occur," said Ms Orla Ni Eili from the council's Ennis branch.
Mr Dier Tong, a Sudanese refugee living in Dublin, said interaction between neighbours was much more frequent and important there than in Ireland.
"I find it very difficult here because I don't know the neighbours living a metre away," he said. "If I arrived in a new place in Sudan, the first people I would meet would be the neighbours."
Here are some other cultural norms which could be misinterpreted in Ireland:
In some African states, it is considered disrespectful to make eye contact with older people, or people in authority. Many asylum-seekers and refugees from African states have reported that gardai or officials have misinterpreted such behaviour as an indication that the person is lying.
In Sudan, it is not customary to thank someone who has cooked dinner for you, as food is seen as one of life's staples and therefore special recognition is not needed.
Members of some African tribes laugh when they are narrating a painful story.
In some parts of Nigeria, women who smoke are looked upon as prostitutes.
In Romania, it is traditional for a man to kiss a woman's hand when they are introduced.
In some African societies, pregnant women do not go out at night as they believe bad spirits will penetrate the child. Women attach a special stone to their clothes to keep the spirits at bay.