Pack launched to combat racism

There is a need for "greater consistency and effectiveness" in tackling racism at national and regional level, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, has said.

Mr Ó Cuív was speaking at the launch of an anti-racism information pack to community groups around the State in an effort to combat the rise in racially-motivated incidents.

The pack provides information on racism from the perspective of minority groups, and offers advice on how to combat it.

Community groups played a vital role in tackling racism, Mr Ó Cuiv said. "While we can legislate against racist behaviour, we cannot change attitudes overnight; but we can shift people's perceptions in the future."

He said the information would be of use not only in the response to racist incidents, but in making people aware of their own attitudes towards minority groups.

"It not only outlines the problems encountered by those of us who are not from the 'white, English-speaking, settled' community, but also challenges us to examine our own consciences even though we would not regard ourselves as racist."

The pack details experiences of racism relating to "Black Irish", "New Communities", "Travellers" and "White Settled".

It gives examples of best practice from community and voluntary groups who tackle racism.

It describes the issues they face, and the methods used in each response, ranging from English classes for refugees to addressing cultural issues which have an impact on how minority ethnic groups deal with service providers.

It explains the legal framework for dealing with racism, and information about training in anti-racism. It also provides details of groups established by new communities.

The director of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), Mr Philip Watt, said he hoped the pack would help combat the increase and seriousness in the number of racists incidents. "We have had a marked increase in reports of racially-motivated incidents. While everyone has a role to play, for community groups this is an issue on the ground."