Racism is taking hold in Ireland, according to Amnesty International. In a timely intervention this week, the international human rights watchdog drew attention to the reality of racist abuse (and worse at times) meted out, sometimes daily, to fellow members of our society simply on the basis of their racial or ethnic differences. Amnesty's pronouncements were based on the findings of a public opinion survey carried out by an established and reputable polling company. This is not, then, an organisation arguing its case based on anecdotal evidence (of which there is, sadly, an abundance) but one which is backing its thesis with hard facts. And the conclusion - "a crucial failure of political leadership" - is correctly drawn.
Of 1,000 people surveyed last month, the Lansdowne Market Research/Amnesty survey found that 74 per cent believed the Government had a responsibility to educate the public about ethnic minorities and the dangers of racism. Some 40 per cent stated that the Government was not doing enough to combat racism. Asked how often they had heard insulting comments being made about another person's skin colour or ethnic background, 23 per cent replied occasionally, seven per cent said frequently. While there is some comfort to be drawn from the fact that 26 percent responded "rarely" and 37 per cent said "never", these figures are nonetheless depressing.
The survey was not all gloomy, however. Asked if they could see themselves being friends with several categories of people, significant numbers replied in the affirmative. Almost 40 per cent could envisage being friends with people of Chinese origin; 32 per cent with black people; 28 per cent with Jewish people; 20 percent with Africans; and 18 per cent with Muslims. There is, therefore, a sizeable proportion of Irish people who have, it would appear, moved beyond judging others according merely to their racial origin or ethnic background. It can only be presumed that the criteria these people would apply as to whether they could be friends with people of differing racial or ethnic backgrounds are the usual ones governing social intercourse - shared interests and personal compatibility. It is to be welcomed also that almost half of respondents - 48 per cent - believed that people should be prosecuted for making insulting or abusive comments to other people because of their skin colour or ethnic background.
Last Autumn, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue, announced a propaganda campaign to combat racism, and rightly won praise for his plans. But that campaign has yet to see the light of day. Why the delay? It is surely not beyond the wit of man to express in succinct terms the anti-racist message and to harness the wealth of talent in Ireland's advertising industry to get that message across with punch. There is need also for an up-to-date legislative framework that defines racially motivated crime, thereby giving the gardai the means to act against it.
Ireland is fast becoming a multi-cultural society and there is little reason to believe that the pace of change will slow. Peoples of different racial and ethnic backgrounds have a great deal to offer the rest of us and we have much to learn from them. Amnesty's survey illustrates the depth of intolerance (and no surprise that it runs deepest in relation to Travellers) but also points to a solid foundation of tolerance, albeit among a minority of respondents. That foundation needs to be built upon fast and with determination. Mr O'Donoghue and others of good intent need to act with greater dispatch.