However, our pride in ourselves may be misplaced, according to organisations that work with the disabled and the elderly.

Just 30% of Irish people believe age discrimination is "widespread" in the country - the lowest level of all the 27 EU countries surveyed. Similarly, 35% of Irish people believe those with a disability are discriminated against - the third-lowest of the countries surveyed.

Ireland also places itself in the lower third of EU countries with respect to religious and gender discrimination, with 25% and 26% respectively believing it is widespread here - well below the EU average of 44% and 40%.

Slightly more (38%) feel there is discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, against an EU average of 50%.

But the highest number of all (57%) agree there is widespread racial discrimination in Ireland, a percentage that is far closer to but still below the EU average of 64%.

But pressure groups have rubbished the survey's finding, arguing that Irish people's favourable perception of discrimination in Ireland is at odds with reality.

"Lack of awareness is no indication of lack of discrimination. This survey just shows the scale of the problem we face to get age discrimination up the political agenda, " said Eamon Timmins of Age Action Ireland, which has just launched its 'Older and Bolder' public awareness campaign.

"One in eight of all discrimination cases taken to the Equality Tribunal concerns age discrimination. And this is rising, " said Timmins.

"If you are in your 30s and suffer a stroke you will be offered rehabilitation. You can't get the same service if you are in your 70s. That is blatant discrimination, " he added.

"There is a high level of ambiguity among Irish people about foreigners coming to work in Ireland. But they like to feel they do not discriminate against people with disabilities. It is not the reality, " said Donal Toolan of the Forum for People with Disabilities.

Most buildings still don't even provide basic wheelchair access, said Toolan. The fact that this exclusion is tolerated in Ireland is not reflected in the EU survey results, he claimed.