Politicians `must lead from the front' in tackling racism

The Government and politicians have been criticised by the editor of the Redemptorist order's Reality magazine for a failure of leadership on the issue of racism in Irish society.

The church's voice, too, "must be heard more strongly in condemning the casual racism that is sweeping the country", Father Gerard Moloney writes.

"Those in authority in this country have a duty to confront the poison of racism. They must make it absolutely clear that it is unacceptable. They must lead from the front on this issue. But they have failed to do so."

He criticises the Government's stance on the issue, which he felt was "unnecessarily harsh". This had sent out clear signals "that all non-white people were to be treated with suspicion and their presence resented. The manner in which asylum-seekers have been dispersed throughout the country has also provoked unnecessary fear and hostility in receiving communities. It could, and should, have been better handled."

He writes that the image that Irish people hold of themselves as a friendly, welcoming people "is an image we do not deserve . . . for we Irish are a deeply racist people".

He thanks God that only a minority, "openly at least", support groups "as xenophobic as Aine Ni Chonaill's Immigration Control Platform" who want to retain Ireland for the Irish. "But every day on our streets, in our workplaces, on our buses and public transport system, even in our places of worship and sporting arenas, people different in skin colour or ethnic background are subjected to racial taunts and open abuse."

He suggests that the traditional monoculturalism of Irish society is one reason for this increase in racism. The arrival of people of different racial backgrounds was "something new and threatening for many people - and their fears have not been helped by the often sensational and alarmist coverage of the refugee issues by some sections of the media".