Irish citizens are the most likely in Europe to view the presence of people from minority backgrounds as enriching the cultural life of the nation, according to an EU wide survey.
The Eurobarometer survey of 27 EU states also reveals that Irish citizens were the second most likely to have come into contact with someone from a different culture, ethnic background or nationality within the previous seven days.
In findings welcomed yesterday by President Mary McAleese and the Minister for Integration, Conor Lenihan, the survey found that 84 per cent of Irish citizens said they believed Irish cultural life was either "enriched very much" or "rather enriched" by people with a different cultural background.
This places Ireland joint first with Luxembourg in terms of positive reactions to the subject, and compares with an EU wide average of 72 per cent.
At 90 per cent of respondents, the figure for Ireland was even higher among those who were still in the education system.
However, overall 12 per cent - or more than one in 10 - of Irish citizens said they believed it was either "rather not enriched" or "not enriched at all".
Elsewhere, 77 per cent of Irish citizens also said they had some interaction with a person from a different culture, ethnic background or nationality within the previous seven days.
This level of interaction is second only to Luxembourg, at 82 per cent of respondents, with the UK in third place at 76 per cent.
The survey, which was conducted among a randomly selected sample of about 1,000 Irish citizens aged 15 or older in each country last November, also reveals that 90 per cent agreed that intercultural dialogue was beneficial, placing the citizens of this State behind only Denmark and Sweden in this regard.
At 62 per cent, Irish citizens were below the EU average of 67 per cent when it came to agreeing that young people should stick to their family or cultural traditions.
The results of the research were released yesterday to coincide with the launch by Mrs McAleese of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue at a ceremony in the Mansion House, Dublin. The initiative will see a range of programmes and events taking place throughout the year. These will be focused on six key areas, including arts and culture, community participation and sports, business and trade union and service providers.
Irish participation in the initiative is being overseen by the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism.
Speaking at the launch, which was also attended by Mr Lenihan and Stormont Assembly member Anna Lo, among others, Mrs McAleese said this would be a "crucial year" in which we could "consolidate this new Ireland".
The Eurobarometer study's findings showed that "we're mixing better", she said.
"I hope it is a very early sign of the avoidance of ghettoisation, the avoidance of segregation and segmentation," she said. "I hope it says something about the genuineness and importantly the sustained nature of the welcome given by Irish people to our new Irish."
Mr Lenihan also welcomed the findings of the report, adding that this year he intends to establish a taskforce, a ministerial council and an immigrant commission.
Changing culture: positive feedback
84%of Irish respondents say they believe their country's cultural life was either "enriched very much" or "rather enriched" by people with a different cultural background: 87 per cent of 15-24 year olds, 82 per cent of 25-39 year olds, 88 per cent of 40-54 year olds and 80 per cent who are 55 or over felt this way.
77%of Irish citizens - the second highest in Europe - also said they had some interaction with a person from a different culture, ethnic background or nationality within the previous seven days.