Immigration Council Call For National Action Plan On Racism

A national action plan to combat racism is needed, the Immigration Council of Ireland has said.

On the International Day Against Racism the council has published a series of "wide-ranging" recommendations, which it has submitted to the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

The main recommendations include:

• The ratification of European Conventions on Cyber Crime to ensure a robust

response to on-line racism

• The adoption of clear policies by every public body in Ireland which explicitly

state there is no acceptable level of racism

• The establishment of a centralised data base and the use of the Garda

PULSE system to ensure there is accurate recording of the levels of racism

Speaking as the recommendations were published Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland said: "For over 12 months we have been responded to unprecedented levels of reports of racism and discrimination following high profile awareness campaigns on public transport and social media.

"In 2013 we recorded an 85% increase in cases, a trend which has continued into 2014. On the basis of these figures and the testimonies of people who have come forward to us we are now calling for a new National Action Plan to combat racism.

Full details of the councils recommendations can be found on here.

(MH)