More than half of people questioned for a survey for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission do not believe that the rights of minority groups are respected.
Chief IHREC Commissioner Emily Logan said there are concerns about the rights of minority groups including immigrants and travellers.
"Half of the respondents - in particular younger people - believe that minority rights are not respected," she said.
"51% of people said they believe that the traveller community and the immigrant communities are not respected … and 96% said no matter who you are, or where you come from, you should be treated equally."
However, 54% do not think asylum seekers should have the right to work or housing until they are granted status.
In addition, 55% of those questioned for the Red C poll do not think prisoners should have the same rights as everybody else.