Sir, – Recent comments about immigration, particularly those singling out people from specific countries or communities, highlight an issue we often struggle to confront honestly: unconscious bias.
Every country has a right to maintain a fair, transparent and effective immigration system. Immigration policies should apply equally to everyone, and once people are legally permitted to live here, they should be supported to build safe, stable and productive lives.
At the same time, we must acknowledge the very real pressures facing many people in Ireland today, including the housing and homelessness crisis. These concerns deserve serious attention and practical solutions.
However, it is important that discussions about immigration do not unfairly target particular nationalities, ethnicities or religions. Research consistently shows that implicit racial bias develops early in life.
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Even young children can recognise racial differences and absorb social messages about which groups are viewed more positively or negatively. These attitudes are often unconscious, but they still shape how we speak, think and make judgments.
Recognising unconscious bias is not about accusing people of being deliberately racist. It is about understanding we all absorb assumptions from the society around us.
The responsibility then is to reflect on those assumptions honestly and challenge them where necessary. Public conversations about immigration should be guided by fairness, evidence and respect for individuals, rather than fear or stereotypes attached to entire communities. – Yours, etc,
Fiona McNicholas,
Prof of child and adolescent psychiatry,
CHI Crumlin, Lucena Camhs and UCD
