Racism is the exact opposite of the values of respect, welcome and fair play which Ireland is known for, the Taoiseach said last night at the launch of a national programme to promote an inter-cutural society.
Mr Ahern said racial tensions had increased over the last few years as the State has undergone one of the greatest demographic and economic transformations in its history.
Mr Ahern was joined at the launch of the three-year, £4.5million National Anti-Racism Awareness Programme by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue and the Tβnaiste, Ms Harney.
The three politicians were criticised earlier this year by the Irish section of Amnesty International, which claimed they had failed to show leadership on anti-racism. Amnesty was also highly critical of the lengthy delay in implementing the awareness programme.
Mr Ahern urged everyone in Ireland to support the programme. "Racism is wrong. Discrimination is wrong. Just as sectarian violence is wrong. They have no place in a Republic which is founded on the ideals of the equality and the dignity of every member of our human family. Racism is the exact opposite of the values of respect and welcome and fair play which Ireland is known for, and has always stood for. The National Anti-Racism Awareness Programme tonight reaffirms those basic values and aims to raise public awareness about the importance of defending equality in national life."
Mr Ahern said Ireland was becoming a multicultural society and rapid cultural change brought many challenges and complex, sometimes controversial, issues. Ireland had faced important challenges in economic recovery, joining the European Monetary Union and introducing new work practices, he said.
"The new challenge of cultural change can, I believe, be met by the processes which have served us well in other areas. In particular, partnership and clear thinking. Such an approach will help to deal with those issues fairly, comprehensively and openly as a country," he added.
Mr Ahern said the national programme set the tone and framework for that debate "by saying clearly that Ireland wants to be a country free of racism and discrimination against minorities". By saying "no" to racism through the programme, we are saying "yes" to "an honest discussion about where we are, where we want this country to go and the role we all have to play," he added.
Mr Ahern outlined the slow progress made in housing Travellers who continue to live on the roadside and said the government would continue to urge local authorities to speed up their Traveller accommodation programmes.
While building cultural respect and openness to other cultures in Ireland, the government was also working hard to make progress with realistic migration policies and improved asylum procedures.
"That does not mean adopting an open-door immigration or asylum policy. No country operates such a system and we are not going to do so either," he said.
The programme will focus on anti-racism awareness in education, the media, community and local development, the workplace, the Garda, political parties, sporting bodies and religious organisations.
A steering group has been set up to implement the programme along with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The group is chaired by Mr Joe McDonagh, a former GAA president, and includes representatives of trade unions, businesses, the community and voluntary sector, and ethnic minority groups.