The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has said governments must remember to be positive and pro-active in their approach towards building an inclusive, intercultural society in Europe.
Under the Irish Presidency of the EU, the minister was speaking at the opening of a seminar on combating racism.
Minister McDowell said the Irish Government was one of the few that embraced the EU enlargement process without the nervousness that characterised some other states.
Prior to enlargement he said statements were made that there would be 'floods of migrants' within the EU, and restrictions and barriers would have to be put up to protect the Irish economy, but one month later that had not occurred.
Mr McDowell said that the judgement of the Irish Government had been vindicated and enlargement should be embraced rather than feared.
