Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and I thank them for their presentations. To follow on from Senator Terry Leyden's introductory remarks, I remember well the particular occasion which the Senator courageously and generously shared with the rest of the committee.

Two important points have emerged. Prejudice is something that grows if not challenged. It grows in all societies, in developing societies and in developed and sophisticated countries. There is a considerable amount of prejudice throughout many European countries, some of which are established citadels of democracy, and it is growing as time goes on. It grows simply because it is accepted and it meets a situation that arises from time to time, particularly at times of economic stringency.

Notwithstanding what the last speaker had to say, economic stringency affects everybody. People move into their respective corners when they feel threatened. I agree that we need to confront this. We need to establish certain norms by way of setting down particular guidelines beyond which we should not allow ourselves or our neighbours to go. I was a member of the original convention which drafted the human rights charter. We discussed all of those issues in great detail at that particular time. We had brave ideas as to how to solve the problems which presented to us at that time. There was also a recognition that resources would be an issue in many cases, of the type developing and unfolding now.

Two distinct issues arise in the context of existing and incoming member states of the European Union. First, we must set our own standards and ensure we keep to them, notwithstanding how difficult that may be. While doing so may not from time to time be popular, we have to do it. Second, we must recognise the erosion of basic fundamental rights standards in some of the more sophisticated European countries and the degree to which slippage in this regard is occurring. There is quite an amount of racist reactionary attitudes developing throughout the European Union. In this regard, one has only to look to international media coverage of some of the events in more recent times, in particular those affecting migrant workers from non-member states, including in future accessionary countries. We must be critical and question to what extent we can stand over much of what has happening without condemnation; to what extent we can address and improve the situation and what we can learn from the serious mistakes of the past so as to ensure they do not recur.

The issue of FGM has been raised. All of us have been dealing with this issue in our constituency work for many years. It is a serious issue of discrimination that has become acceptable, which is sad. FGM is an appalling, repulsive and disgusting practice. I know that some people resent it being described in that manner. However, the number of cases with which I have had to deal in recent times involving the hospitalisation of women who had undergone this practice years ago is horrifying. I take the delegates' point on the need for more focus on this issue.

Everybody in this country says "I am not a racist but". The "but" is used less frequently now than previously. While we have improved, some sensitive situations need to be addressed. Situations can develop overnight, be it in regard to Roma people, Travellers and so on. It may well be that the various ethnic groups will have to try to address this themselves. While we need to encourage them to do so and to evolve to meet certain standards there is a need for us to focus to a far greater extent that normally on the dangers in times of economic stress. It should not be forgotten that there are many difficult situations emerging in this country and across Europe, which have been thrust upon us by economic difficulties. These issues cannot be resolved overnight. We all deal on a daily basis with horrific cases of economic deprivation. I do not agree with the notion that the answer can be plucked out of the clouds and the situation can be resolved overnight. We are in a difficult situation. We must try to live up to the highest possible standards and ensure we do not digress but maintain those standards regardless of the threat.