In light of protests currently taking place across the U.S. and the world in response to the racist murder of George Floyd by U.S. police we are asking Leo Varadkar and his government to address racism in Ireland. This includes: abolishing and addressing the inequalities of Direct Provision, creating a National Action Plan Against Racism and providing funding for education on racism. 

Ireland has among highest rates of hate crime against people of African background  in the EU, in a report by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Minister for Justice Charles Flanagan says he is in consultation with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, with the aim of bringing forward proposals to address the findings of the report. However, it is supported by MERJ Ireland that hate crime law implementation put the marginalised at further risk. Putting money into hate crime laws takes away from funding which is needed to abolish Direct Provision and education on racism in Ireland. In a iReport.ie afrophobia in ireland (https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/afrophobia-in-ireland.pdf questionnaire, the report makes informed, practical recommendations for improving Garda responses to racism. Implementing these recommendations would mark a significant step in improving the experiences of migrants and ethnic-minorities.

1. We need a National Action Plan Against Racism, flanked by root-and-branch reform of all areas of state policy, its agencies and their practices.

2. The abolishment and funding of abolishment of direct provision

3. Funding for education on racism

4. Improvement of Garda responses to racism