Independent Ireland has said it sees no need for election candidates to sign up to an ‘anti-racism’ protocol which is being promoted in County Wicklow by groups such as Bray for Love, African Irish Society of Co. Wicklow, and United Against Racism Wicklow.
The protocol asks election candidates to pledge to uphold a series of actions including the inclusion of images in their election material “that reflects the diversity of our society” and to “send a consistent and clear message” to their constituents that they “reject racism and all forms of discrimination and hate speech”.
It also states that any contribution made by the candidate to discussions regarding groups such as asylum seekers, Muslims, Travellers, Roma, etc. must be conducted in a “responsible way” and show “respect for the dignity and rights” of those groups.
Assignees of the protocol also pledge to inform their potential constituents that they have signed it.
On the 21st of March last candidates standing for election for Wicklow County Council were asked to sign up to the protocol which was formulated by Irish Network Against Racism, INAR.
RTÉ presenter and activist Emer O’Neill said that during the upcoming election campaign there was concern that “immigration might become a central talking point and overshadow many real issues of housing, local facilities, health and transport.”
She added that it was “important to raise these issues respectfully” without “scapegoating minority groups”.
O’Neill said election candidates were being called on to keep the election “clean” and to sign up to the Irish Network Against Racism’s Election Protocol adding that a public event would be held in April to sign up to the document.
Independent Ireland Party Leader Michael Collins said that while there is no place for racism in Irish society today he disagreed with calls for candidates to sign what he called an “NGO created “Anti Racism” document saying this only causes “further division around the issue”.
Collins stressed that while the party denounces racism unequivocally, it refuses to sign a protocol that, it says, suggests the Irish population is racist.
“Independent Ireland’s position is that there is no place for racism in Irish society. Signing a document formulated by an NGO that seems to believe that we are an inherently racist country is not something we would be encouraging our candidates to do.” he said.
“Some of the people driving this ideology try to instil the belief in such ideas as ‘White Privilege’,” he said adding that, “They take the assumption that immutable characteristics such as the colour of your skin make you privileged in order to promote the idea.”
He continued that, “To agree to be an ‘anti-racist’ means you must take the position that Irish society and the people of Ireland are inherently racist. That is not something we subscribe to or believe.”
“We are a warm, welcoming and friendly society as we have been for generations and we don’t subscribe to the belief that entire societies can be racist.” he said.
Regarding what he called the potential for election candidates to feel pressured into signing up to the document he asked if it would be “the stance of these organisations that if you do not sign this ‘protocol,’ you are a racist candidate?”
He added that Independent Ireland is of the view that “if there is any protocol that should be signed, it should be one based on listening to the concerns of the electorate, helping to improve their lives, helping people with the cost of living, housing, healthcare and listening to and addressing their concerns on immigration, along with a plethora of other issues.”
Collins underlined the party’s commitment to addressing the issues affecting communities, stating, “Ultimately it will be down to each individual candidate whether they decide to partake in this pact, but we would rather our candidates focus on dealing with the issues at the heart of their communities and working to listen and help the people they represent. If racism is something that individual constituents face, our candidates will condemn it and work to support the people affected”
Independent Ireland said it “firmly stands against racism while rejecting divisive ideologies that may harm societal cohesion.” and that the party “remains dedicated to serving the interests and needs of all Irish citizens.”
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