Groups welcome immigrant strategy

Immigrant support groups have welcomed the publication of a Government strategy which aims to improve the integration of non-nationals into Irish society and avoid problems experienced by other countries.

The statement - entitled Migration Nation- lists a range of policies and key principles that will guide Government policy on the issue.

It is the first such statement by the Office of the Minister for Integration since it was established last year.

Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan said immigration posed one of the biggest challenges faced by Ireland. He said over 420,000 – or 12 per cent – of the population were born outside Ireland.

Minister Conor Lenihan

But, he said, by putting proper structures in place and by strategic planning for the future, “we can avoid the difficulties that other countries have experienced.”

Mr Lenihan said Ireland has a “unique moral, intellectual and practical capability to adapt to the experience of inward migration”.

Among the key elements of the strategy is the streamlining the asylum process. In addition, it calls for new laws to help skilled migrants to enter the Irish workforce and increased measures to help prevent the exploitation of foreign workers.

It also calls for the establishment of a formal pathway to permanent residency and citizenship for immigrants. However, citizenship will linked to applicants’ ability to speak English.

Mr Lenihan said the Department of Education is currently spending €120 million a year on language support teachers for immigrant children in schools. “These learning resources will be the subject of rigorous review and evaluation to further enhance this service,” the Minister said.

The statement also proposes a partnership approach between Government and non-governmental organisations. Mr Lenihan emphasised the role of local communities, authorities, sporting bodies, religious groups and political parties in building integrated communities and avoiding the problems of ghettoisation.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) and the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) both welcomed the statement.

Chief executive of the ICT Denise Charlton said it recognised the importance of ensuring that migrants are able to integrate fully into Irish communities.

“It is timely and fitting that we develop a framework for activities that provide opportunities for full participation by immigrants in Irish society,” she said.

NPAR chairwoman Lucy Gaffney said the policy showed integration and diversity management issues were being treated as a priority by Government. She said community-based groups and schools have a critical role to play in the success of the strategy.

However, she accused the Department of Education of “falling short” in their commitments on providing language lessons. “This is something that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency,” Ms Gaffney said.

Fine Gael’s immigration and integration spokesman Denis Naughten argued the Government strategy would do little to address ghettoisation. “[It] is vague and makes no clear commitment to address the integration challenges facing Irish society, particularly in terms of educating immigrants in the English language.”

He said the strategy contains no commitment for new education funding and claimed many schools were unsatisfied with the current levels of financial support.