Sir, - Recent versions of the proposed British 2001 census include "Irish" under the category "white". "Irish" is included nowhere else and this means that the census is making the assumption that all Irish people are white. This is generally but not always true.
As a black Irish person I resent the assumption that all Irish people are white and know from my own experience that there are many ethnic and cultural minorities in Ireland who are not white but are no less Irish. I would suggest that the British authorities move the Irish category from under the "White" and put it under the "Other Ethnic Groups", so that non-white Irish people are not excluded. As it is I think that the proposed classification is racist, and that all Irish people should refuse to acknowledge it. - Yours, etc.,
Laurence Ward,
New Park Road,
London SW2.