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People attend an anti-racism protest in London this week. PA

'From the moment a hate crime is reported, the hate element is filtered out by the system'

Grace Tierney of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties is living in the US through lockdown and witnessing the Black Lives Matter protest. She says Ireland must ask itself the hard questions.

SINCE THE KILLING of George Floyd last month, cities across the United States and the world over have erupted into a protest with a clear message: enough is enough. The racism and discrimination that have endured for so long will no longer be tolerated. Here in the US where I grew up and am working from home, we have reached boiling point. 

In Ireland, where I live normally, we can feel somehow immune against these twin plagues. But minority groups in Ireland, such as the Traveller community and people living in Direct Provision, are at the sharp end of the persistent inequality within Irish society. 

The US demonstrations are not happening in a vacuum; images of protesters demonstrating while wearing facemasks are a reminder of the wider context of our times. The potential criminalisation of solidarity protests in Dublin reminds us that Ireland is not immune.

Covid-19 discriminates

These protests are occurring during a deadly global pandemic – one that has disproportionately affected minority groups in the US and in Ireland; a direct result of the entrenched inequalities that affect the lives of vulnerable and minority groups every day.

At the beginning of lockdown, many remarked that this pandemic was the great equaliser – that it didn’t matter who you were or where you were from, if you caught Covid-19, it would not discriminate. We now know that this is not true. Evidence emerging from the US and UK suggests the disease affects some minority communities more than others.

Proper access to sanitation and space to socially distance is key to combating the spread of the disease and not all communities have the same access.  Many have also remarked that society and the economy have been paused. But racism, discrimination, and inequality do not have pause buttons.

Racism and intolerance are key obstacles to meaningful equality in Irish society. Covid-19 has presented unprecedented peacetime challenges to human rights like the rights to liberty and free movement, but also exciting opportunities to address longstanding structural inequalities in areas such as housing, poverty, and refugee and minority rights. 

The specific gaps and weaknesses in Ireland’s legislative response to hate crime are a key sticking point in effectively tackling racism and discrimination in the country.

Ireland has among the highest rates of hate crime against people of African background and transgender people in the EU, but no laws to address it. In Ireland from the moment a hate crime is reported, the hate element is filtered out by the system. This makes it impossible for victims of hate crimes to get the justice that they deserve. 

During the February 2020 general election, every major party in Ireland committed to outlawing hate crime. Slowly and quietly in the background of everything else going on, a government is forming. We must all hold those in power to the promises that they have made. 

Covid-19 and race issues

A particular black mark on Ireland’s response to Covid-19 has been its treatment of people in congregated settings, like those in Direct Provision centres. Of significant concern were the reports from the Skellig Star in Cahersiveen that people had been locked into the centre with padlocks on gates. Lack of proper cleaning following an outbreak of Covid-19 within the centre and mishandling of transfers caused significant trauma for residents. 

We don’t yet fully understand the extent to which Covid-19 has affected people in these settings, but it has served to highlight again the fact that the Direct Provision system is failing asylum seekers in Ireland.

It facilitates a range of human rights violations, including the right to dignity; to work; to education; to health; to private and family life; and to justice. We must end it. A post-Covid Ireland working toward justice, freedom, and equality is one where newcomers who arrive at our shores fleeing danger are housed with dignity.  

Racism has a particularly Irish flavour when we think of the Traveller community. There were serious concerns about basic sanitation at halting sites when the pandemic began. It’s simply not acceptable that there are people without sufficient access to running water in our country. Overcrowding also made it difficult to observe social distancing. County councils for years have not provided proper facilities. 

Black Lives Matter bringing change

This is a turning point in history. While those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to do so are at home following public health guidelines and keeping safe, we must think about the issues that have been laid bare in recent months.

Is this really who we want to be? We must use this time to decide what kind of a world we all want to inhabit in the post-Covid era. 

This emergency period has seen a number of positive changes – ones that we were previously told were not possible. Ireland, for now, has a single-tiered healthcare system, increased social welfare payments, and a ban on evictions.

These are just a few of the positive measures that could be extended after the emergency period is over; it’s up to us to ensure that they do. We get to choose what Ireland looks like going forward – that’s the beauty of a democratic society.

American author, poet, and activist Cleo Wade said: ‘The voice within you that says “this is not okay” is a direct call from the basic goodness of your spirit.’

We must all now listen to that voice, stand up, and move forward toward progress. 

Grace Tierney is the Funding Development Officer at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. She is currently working from home in Maryland, US.

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39 Comments
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    Mute Nemethon
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    Jul 8th 2024, 9:32 AM

    Yayyyyy paid out so to pay for some of the holidays to Spain yippee. I volunteer with a charity and within the next few weeks we’ll be inundated with calls for help for to pay for uniforms. I think the BOS allowance should be paid out differently not in cash but a credit note therefore the money is used for it’s intended purpose and not wazzed up again a wall on holidays or extensions or nails etc.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 9:58 AM

    @Nemethon: yes totally agree .

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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:38 AM

    @Nemethon: there’ll be an extra in the Christmas bonus allowance to help with election voting decisions

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 12:27 PM

    @Nemethon: also why is it payed so early in month sould be later

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    Mute Fiona Wyse
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:09 AM

    Surely the back of school allowance should be reduced now that there is free primary school books and that the tablets for the secondary schools have also been reduced due to this initiative?
    I just feel sorry for all of the working dads who pay for all of the school fees as part of a maintenance agreement and don’t get the benefit of any of this money back from their taxes because it all is paid to the mother.

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    Mute CP
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:30 AM

    @Fiona Wyse, fair play Fiona,

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 11:02 AM

    @Fiona Wyse: are you a parent do you know the cost of. Uniforms fleeces jumpers with crests on them. And only one s that benefit from the free school books is the principals . Still parents. Are asked /expected to pay. €80 +school fees. That is just primary school s and the secondary schools some of the schools that use the tablets parents pay for .

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    Mute Fiona Wyse
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    Jul 9th 2024, 11:17 AM

    @Karen Marten: I’m very aware of the cost of them, my husband has purchased all his children’s tablets, books, uniforms and school fees without any governmental assistance. Two tablets in 2 years, €1,500 and all back to school allowance paid to ex wife. It’s ok for us, we plan and manage that cost between us (it’s tight and we work two jobs) but some men might not have the luxury of having a partner to fall back on and help financially. When there is a maintenance order in place it should go to the primary payer of the school kit, not the mother exclusively as that outlay is removed from them so why should they be paid the benefit. I look forward to your explanation on this one.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 10th 2024, 9:48 PM

    @Fiona Wyse some people need financial supports that’s why even those who have jobs. It’s called th cost of living I know what your problem is it’s crystal clear so obvious but I’m not going to get into that

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 9:55 AM

    Pity it’s so badly. Means tested so many working parents earning too much to avail but yet need it as uniforms getting more expensive every year.

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    Mute Toyo Ke
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:13 AM

    @Karen Marten: I don’t agree, I am by anybody standards not a high earner, but if you pay your taxes, you have earned the benefit. Same for children’s allowance. Some can afford to put it straight into savings accounts, which doesn’t appear fair for alot of people, but they paid their taxes.

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    Mute marklars81
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:25 AM

    @Toyo Ke: I think you do agree. You both seem to be saying it shouldn’t be means tested. I also agree, if you pay your taxes you should get more than a free dental cleaning once a year.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 11:16 AM

    @Toyo Ke: are you for real cop on . How many parents you know have applied for this both working or one working and one a carer getting turned down because earning. €50 too much .

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 11:35 AM

    @Toyo Ke: those who can afford to go with out children’s allowance should apply to not receive it . .

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 11:38 AM

    @Toyo Ke:

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    Mute marklars81
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    Jul 8th 2024, 2:17 PM

    @Karen Marten: Why? Those who can afford to go without it are paying a lot more tax than you and I.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 2:40 PM

    @marklars81: I agree but if they don’t need it … don’t take it and. Child allowance has nothing to do with paying taxes any baby born In Ireland parent gets it… and children who’s parent is Irish who have moved back here.

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    Mute marklars81
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:30 AM

    Schools should be made pick colour of slacks/skirt and a colour of jumper/ polo shirt, all plain. Make uniforms actually affordable and let Pennys or Dunnes go for the market. Having to buy a crested jumper is just another way for a school to get more money from parents. Schools shouldn’t need to do this.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 11:08 AM

    @marklars81: no schools should be making us pay for crested but they are . And are advertising for certain school uniform shops to buy them from but there are some options to go cheaper like getting crests done yourself or schools could go with iron on crests either but still.at and of day. Dunnes is not cheap when you have to buy polo’s shirts and the likes it still adds up .

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 1:02 PM

    @Karen Marten: should NOT

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    Mute marklars81
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    Jul 8th 2024, 1:54 PM

    @Karen Marten: Dunnes is cheap for school wear, you can get a pack of 3 polos from 5.50. Compare this to the school crested top and you’ll realise it is cheap.
    Can’t really tell if you were agreeing or disagreeing with me to be fair :/

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 3:13 PM

    @marklars81: dunes is NOT CHEAP and polo s shirts blouses skirts trousers track bottoms all go up in price depending on age. So I am disagreeing with you that they are not cheap

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    Mute Terence Smith
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    Jul 8th 2024, 11:45 AM

    So back to school allowance, paid meals in school, meals during summer holidays, Christmas bonus, is there anything these ‘parents’ actually get for their own children without relying on the state to raise their children?

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 12:28 PM

    @Terence Smith: the school meals is in ALL primary schools now. .

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    Mute liam mc meel
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    Jul 8th 2024, 8:27 AM

    Happy days this is wonderful news

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    Mute Mark R
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    Jul 8th 2024, 9:58 AM

    I could never understand the qualifications for the Back to School allowance. I know of well qualified professionals working for large multinationals who get it. It is supposed to be biased on household income, yet the only way they would qualify is if the main breadwinners earnings are left out of the application…

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:03 AM

    @Mark R: I have heard from parents who applied but was over the means by €50 combined. Two parent working families struggling to get by with the costs of uniforms getting so expensive and schools making wear crested this and only black shoes and that’s just primary schools .

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Jul 8th 2024, 12:26 PM

    @Mark R: I can tell you with 100% certainty that no one who is in a well paid job is getting it unless they’re lying in their application, and if they are they will be found out because Revenue and the DSP share info.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 12:37 PM

    @Gearoid MacEachaidh: yes I thought that too if a 2 parent working family struggling can’t get it earning too much ,but then again. There are some people who can work the system. Like the child allowance when not I’m the the country most of the year

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    Mute Gearoid MacEachaidh
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    Jul 8th 2024, 12:53 PM

    @Karen Marten: the only way for these people to “work the system” would be to lie. There was a time where different government departments didn’t talk to each other but those days are gone. Only way to scam is to be getting paid under the table. But if you’re working for a multinational and claiming benefits you’re not entitled to you’ll be caught, and almost certainly wouldn’t get them to begin with since bank statements are required as part of the application

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    Mute john kenny
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    Jul 8th 2024, 8:35 AM

    Good news story.

    23
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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Jul 8th 2024, 10:51 AM

    Stunned that a comment is mocking this payment as a means of garnering votes. I assume that if an alternative government is elected they expect the new government to remove all benefits to everybody. Some people are just ignorant in their need to protest against everything.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Jul 8th 2024, 11:10 AM

    @Sun Rise: there are genuine hard working families who are over the means to get this payment and there are those who will always get it and not spend it on the uniforms let’s not sugar coat it !

    54
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