Reports of racism are 700% higher in Northern Ireland than in the Republic of Ireland:

In 2009, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, recorded 1,038 incidents while the figure for the same period was just 128 for the Republic of Ireland - according to a review of figures carried out by the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

The Council says the disparity raises very serious questions about the way incidents are recorded by Gardaí and the Department of Justice and suggest a lot of  racism is going unreported.

An examination of official figures for the Republic of Ireland by Newstalk Lunchtime with Jonathan Healy has found that conviction rates for racially motivated crimes are so low - that the exact number can’t be revealed.

Racially motivated incidents in Ireland are published yearly by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) with data based on the Garda PULSE system.

Between 2009 to 2011 the numbers of racially motivated incidents reported to the Gardai grew from 128 to 142.

In 2012 the numbers dropped to 100 reported incidents with similar figures for the first three quarters of 2013 - with 60 reported incidents.

The types of incidents reported are broken down by the CSO into categories including; racially motivated minor assaults, assaults causing harm, criminal damages (excluding arson) and public order offences. Also included are offences under the 1989 Incitement to Hatred Act.

However when it comes to the conviction rates for these incidents the CSO said they could not provide details as the numbers were so low it would risk identifying the interested parties.

For example in 2011 we know there were 139 reports of racially motivated incidents - this led to 33 proceedings and 10 convictions.

In 2010 there were 127 racist incidents reported, 37 proceedings resulting in 17 convictions.

The Court Services record that from 1st of January 2012  to November 2013 three people were convicted and imprisoned under Section 2 of the 1989 Incitement to Hatred Act.