Republican News · Thursday 16 May 2002

Tackling racism

Speaking at the launch of the Sinn Féin proposals on Social Inclusion, Dublin South East candidate Daithí Doolan addressed the need to fight racism.

"In today's Ireland where we have already identified the fact that the provision of public services is totally inadequate, there are those who claim that asylum seekers and immigrants are partly responsible for this," he said.

"The responsibility for hospital waiting lists and the housing crisis lies with present and previous governments. We had these problems before immigrants arrived and we will still have these problems unless a radical approach is taken.

"Racism on our streets is now a daily reality. We believe that the response to racism must be built at a community level. Where racism exists it affects human beings and represents a violation of fundamental rights. The challenge to racism is to the forefront of the campaign to achieve equality in our society.

"Sinn Féin is proposing a six-point action plan:

- Anti-racist education packages to be introduced to the school curriculum

- The next government ratifies the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their families

- The reform of the work permit scheme - grant permits to workers not employers

- Speeding up the processing of asylum claims

- The right to work or study for those claiming asylum

- Multi-agency approach to be adopted to aid immigrants in the attempts to integrate with Irish society

"These are innovative and practical proposals. The current status quo is resulting in a rise in an obvious rise in racism and is not an option as Ireland becomes even more multicultural. The benefits of such a society must be promoted and cherished. Sinn Féin for our part will continue to work with ethnic minorities and other marginalised groups. There can be no a la carte approach to equality."

Adams calls on Noonan to apologise

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has called on Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan to withdraw his remarks supporting compulsory health screening for asylum seekers and apologise for the offence that they caused.

"Michael Noonan's comments supporting compulsory health screening for asylum seekers were outrageous and they were wrong," said Adams.

"Last March, Michael Noonan signed an anti-racism pledge committing his party to sending out a consistent and clear message to the electorate that they reject racism. His comments were a clear breach of this pledge. He should withdrawn his remarks immediately and apologise for the offence that they caused. If Michael Noonan was willing to disregard this pledge for cheap electoral publicity then how can voters be expected to accept his party's election promises."