Gardai are close to finalising a working definition of a racial crime that takes into account the views of victims, to allow them to begin recording such incidents. The current lack of such a system was criticised last week by Amnesty International.
Four options for a working definition of racially motivated crimes and incidents are currently being considered by a working group of senior gardai, said Supt Catherine Clancy from the Garda Racial and Intercultural Office.
The proposals contain elements of the definition of racial crime adopted in the UK in the wake of a high-profile inquiry into the murder of a black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, by a white gang in London in 1993.
An inquiry into the teenager's murder by Sir William Macpherson published in 1999 included the recommendation that "a racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person".
The adoption of the definition led to a large increase in the number of reports of racist crime, particularly in the London Metropolitan Police area.
The definition was criticised recently for being "entirely subjective" by a judge in a trial of several Leeds footballers.
Supt Clancy said the working group looked at the Macpherson definition and the context in which it developed. "Elements of the Macpherson definition would be incorporated into our proposals," she added.
Consultations are taking place among senior gardai as well as external organisations and a final definition will be endorsed by the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne.
Supt Clancy said the Garda's PULSE computer system will be used to record racially motivated crimes and incidents once the working definition has been established. She said she hoped this definition would "marry into" any future legal definition.
Amnesty International criticised the lack of working or legal definitions in the area at the launch last week of a new campaign against racism. Its policy officer, Mr Ursula Fraser, also said race crimes should carry heavier penalties.
A Government advisory body, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, recently set up a data base to monitor such incidents.