There are significant gaps in accountability for tackling racism across Government departments, according to a new report, reports Breaking News.
Ireland’s special rapporteur on racial equality and racism has recommended mandatory anti-racism training for all civil and public service staff, along with compulsory annual reporting by Government departments, reports Breaking News.
Dr Ebun Joseph’s annual report on the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR), published on Wednesday, also calls for explicit recognition of anti-Black racism in line with EU standards and stresses a whole-of-Government responsibility for addressing racism.
Seven of the 18 Government departments failed to submit monitoring reports to the rapporteur, citing limited direct responsibility, reports Breaking News.
The report notes that this undermines the whole-of-Government intent of NAPAR.
The Departments of Agriculture, Climate, Defence, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Taoiseach, and Transport stated they had no direct role in implementing the plan, reports Breaking News.
However, the special rapporteur highlighted that this view ignores the plan’s whole-of-Government design, which places obligations on all public authorities, government structures, and public sector employers regarding interpreting services, legislative reviews, and anti-racism training.
Joseph’s report also finds that structural and intersectional racism continues to exist, with notable disparities in employment and education outcomes, reports Breaking News.
She further observes that hate speech legislation remains outdated and that data collection on racism and ethnicity is insufficient.
Another key finding is that “rising anti-migrant sentiment and far-right activity pose increasing risks to social cohesion”, reports Breaking News.
Joseph said: “Ireland has established an important framework to address racism,
“However, the first year of monitoring shows that implementation remains procedural rather than transformative,
“The weaknesses identified — including uneven departmental engagement and gaps in accountability — require stronger leadership, sustained resourcing, and full buy-in across Government to ensure that commitments translate into real change in people’s everyday lives,” reports Breaking News.
The report notes that growing anti-migrant sentiment arises from attacks on international protection applicants, arson at accommodation centres, increased deportations, and mixed messaging on the benefits of migration.
It also highlights a rising far-right presence and rhetoric, both online and in public spaces, reports Breaking News.
The report adds that, under the Department of Justice, “critical gaps remain” in community trust, oversight of racial profiling, migration policies, renewed deportations, living conditions for asylum seekers, internal diversity, and delays in updated hate speech legislation.
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