The Church and the presidency can work together to prevent xenophobia and racism, which were the enemies of democracy, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said today.

Speaking during a visit from the bishops to exchange New Year Greetings, President Coleiro Preca said: “Together we can build a society the way it should be, based on dialogue and solidarity”.

Apostolic Adminstrator Mgr Charles Scicluna stressed that the President’s words needed to be translated into action.

The President is this afternoon receiving New Year greetings from the country’s leaders, unions, constituted bodies, civil society and the public.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told the President that the government’s priority for the new year would be to ensure equality, especially for people with disabilities and women.

He also said that an open discussion "without hypocrisy" was needed to tackle the phenomenon of migration, which was a challenge to Maltese society.

President Coleiro Preca acknowledged there had been economic growth in the past year but said this had to be accompanied by a proper distribution of wealth and poverty had to be addressed.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil also extended his New Year greetings to the President, saying 2015 would be a year in which the local council elections would be held together with a possible referendum on spring hunting.

He stressed that the Nationalist Party would remain a vigilant and effective Opposition.

As members of the judiciary were exchanging greetings with the President, President Coleiro Preca called for better access to justice saying this was what the people deserved and had a right to.

Justice, she said, had to be more expedient.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia, MPs from both sides of the House, and former Presidents George Abela, Eddie Fenech Adami and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici also visited the President to exchange greetings.