Simply ignoring racism will not make it go away

We need proper leadership and strong supports in place to tackle a growing problem that amounts to far more than transient ‘unpleasantness’

The movement to challenge racism is similar to that of climate change: where political leaders fail, young people have again succeeded. (Pic: Getty)

Last September, Michael O’Flaherty of the Vienna-based EU Fundamental Rights Agency warned that Ireland had what he called "a disturbing problem" with racism and discrimination against migrants that must be meaningfully debated. The warning was based on results of a four-year review of attitudes by the agency across 12 member states.

As that report was being published and digested, a different discussion on migrants had begun in places like Oughterard, Borrisokane, Ballinamore, Carrickmacross and Achill. ...