A NEW REPORT on racism and intolerance has expressed disappointment at continued racial profiling.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) have said that the continued requirement that non-Irish nationals produce identity documents “had a discriminatory effect on the basis of individuals’ colour.”

This was despite a High Court ruling in 2011 which said that legislation to enforce this was unconstitutional.

The report believed that the closure of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) in 2008 had made this issue worse.

Concerned for the loss of the “bridge between authorities and the civil society”, the ECRI believed that its “unique reporting system about racist incidents were lost”.

The latest monitoring report also said that Ireland’s travelling community continued to “face significant challenges” where adequate accommodation was concerned, including inadequate space for their caravans and mobile homes.

Those attending school in Ireland, and for whom English is not their first language, are prime candidates for English language assistance.

Despite this, funding to the Integrate Ireland Language and Training centres had been withdrawn.

Progress since 2007

Today’s report, the fourth in a series and the first since 2007, noted that progress continued to be made by the Equality Tribunal.

It also said that the setting up of the Office of the Press Ombudsman and the Press Council had helped to prevent the publication of materials “intended or likely to to cause grave offence or stir up hatred”.

Workers rights had also been given greater monitoring and enforcement with the 2007 establishment of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA).

Recommendations

The report urged authorities to monitor how immigrants are treated, especially in respect of the Immigration Acts of 2003 and 2004, and that consideration should be given to prohibiting, through legislation, any form of racial profiling.

In also recommended that an independent authority, which would operate separate of Ireland’s courts, should be created to deal with cases of discrimination in the provision of goods and services.

Further action was also required in order to ensure that housing met the needs of travellers, while educational systems should be improved in order to ensure that all children of “immigrant origin” had access to education, including higher education.

Read in-full: ECRI report on Ireland >

Read: New primary school anti-racism initiative launched >