Several groups representing the Travelling community have appealed to the Taoiseach to set up a reconciliation forum between Travellers and the settled community.
The groups say relations between the two communities have "steadily deteriorated" in the wake of recent negative publicity over summer encampments.
Mr Martin Collins of Pavee Point Traveller's Centre acknowledged some Travellers were involved in anti-social behaviour and that anyone who breaks the law should be held responsible.
However he claimed the overwhelming experience of most Travellers in Ireland was one of racism at the hands of the settled community.
On the June Bank Holiday weekend in Wexford, 19 Travellers were arrested in what gardaí described as a riot after a dispute arose when a hotel in the town and some local pubs closed after more than 400 Travellers moved onto a Department of Marine site.
In Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, several licensed premises closed for business earlier this month, when up to 40 Traveller caravans took over the car park of the Dawn Meats plant. The Travellers were forced to move when two trailers full of stinking offal was placed near their caravans.
Mr Collins said relations between the two communities was in danger of reaching a "crisis point".
"A reconciliation proposal - involving a forum - has been on the Government desk for a year and nothing has been done. . . . Up to now, the Government's response to summer encampments by Travellers has been to introduce Draconian legislation."
Mr Collins said: "To say that some Travellers engage in anti-social behaviour is not to say that the whole community should be blamed and vilified for that. In fact, it's often other Travellers who are the ones who suffer."
He called on Mr Ahern to use his apparent mediation skills - so much on show during Ireland's presidency of the EU - to help improve relations between Travellers and the settled community.
The Parish of the Travelling People today announced that the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has expressed interest in getting involved in a reconciliation initiative.
