One of the country's leading sociologists has published a new book entitled, Prejudice and Related Issues in Early 21st Century Ireland.
The book, by Fr Michael MacGreil, deals with the country's attitudes to certain social issues over the past thirty years.
The book is based on a national survey carried out by the government’s economic think-tank, the ESRI, between November 2007 and March 2008, and shows the changes in Irish prejudices between 1972 and 2008.
According to Fr McGreil the findings of the 2007-2008 survey are, on the whole, quite positive and give Ireland a relatively tolerant profile in relation to most of the 51 categories that were tested.
The author attributes this to a number of changes in socio-cultural conditions such as the arrival at an acceptable outcome to the peace talks in Northern Ireland and an ongoing rise in educational participation and achievement.
The 'peace dividend' following the changes in the Northern Ireland situation has been confirmed in the changes in the attitudes and opinions of the national sample towards Britain and Northern Ireland.
According to Fr McGreil , in the week that Queen Elizabeth II and prime minister David Cameron visited Ireland, changes on the anti-British scale show appreciation of the positive role of the British government in helping to bring about the new situation of greater cooperation within Northern Ireland.
Sadly, Fr McGreil's book also reveals that some prejudices remain in Ireland, particularly those against ethnic minorities.
The book was launched recently by the former Eamon O'Cuiv TD at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin.
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