Defeat of "routine racism" requires tough decisions and real change

5.44.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Jun 2006

Young Alliance Chair, Ian Parsley

Young Alliance Chair Ian James Parsley has said that removing the fear now felt by ethnic and national minorities in Northern Ireland requires a fundamental change to Northern Ireland's social and political system.

Speaking after the NI Council for Ethnic Minorities named Northern Ireland the race-hate "capital of Europe", the North Down Councillor stated: "Too many people are being allowed to live in a sectarian and racist 'comfort zone'. Instead of integration, we have segregation. Instead of power-sharing, we have power-dividing. Instead of 'mutual respect', we have demands for respect with no 'mutuality'. Instead of politicians prepared to take responsibility for reversing all this, we have politicians prepared to do nothing but blame each other. The result is a society where intolerance reigns, and people feel it acceptable to attack those who are even slightly different from themselves.

"It is time for an end to this communal carve-up which breeds this shameful racism. Instead of having 'Nationalist areas' and 'Unionist areas', we must create a society where everyone prepared to do an honest day's work is comfortable everywhere in our country.

"This means a complete overhaul of the sectarian political system. It means tough decisions. It means proper compromise. It means real change. But this is what is required if the people we elect to lead us away from racism and sectarianism are to do so successfully.

"No more are we in Young Alliance and our friends in other organizations prepared to put up with the shame of being the race-hate capital of Europe. Respect is not a right, it is something you have to earn. Those coming to Northern Ireland and working hard for their families have perhaps earned that respect more than anyone else who lives here. Are our leaders prepared to make the tough decisions to reflect this?"

ENDS