Today's survey does however show that discrimination is still prevalent when hiring candidates; of those surveyed, 36% believe a candidate's "way of speaking" or accent was important when hiring (EU Average is 30%). A staggering 31% thought that a person's address was important when being recruited (EU average 9%).

When it comes to reporting discrimination Irish people seem to be more comfortable going to their trade unions (Ireland 45%, EU 27% mention these as organisation to report discrimination) followed by the police (Ireland 43%, EU 55%).

Levels of personal discrimination in Ireland are lower than the EU average where only 1-9 Irish people experience discrimination (across Europe this figure is 1-6 people).

Meanwhile, 64% of Europeans are concerned that the recession will contribute to more age discrimination in the job market. This latest Eurobarometer results come ahead of this year's European Equality Summit, to be held in Stockholm on 16 and-17 November.

"Discrimination remains a problem across Europe and people's perceptions of it are broadly stable compared to last year," said Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimír Špidla. "One area of concern is the perceived rise in age discrimination as a result of the recession. These results show that despite progress, we still have a long way to go in making people more aware of their rights to equal treatment, particularly at national level and ensure that equality remains not just an empty phrase, but becomes reality," he added.

From today's study only 20% of Irish people feel gender discrimination is widespread, the lowest in the EU. This is way behind the UK where 43% of the population cite this as an issue. The average for the EU is 40%.

Other key findings of the report show


50% of Irish people are happy that enough is being done to fight discrimination (EU average 50%)


46% of Irish people fee that discrimination based on ethnic origin is widespread (EU average 61%)


When asked how they would feel about having either a female, disabled person, homosexual, person from a minority religion or under 30, Irish people are more accepting then the European average.