Martin calls for 'enlightened' immigration policy

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has called on the Government to allow immigrants who have been in Ireland for over five years to stay.

His stance is in support of a recent similar appeal by his Church of Ireland counterpart, the Most Rev John Neill, in his New Year's message earlier this week.

In his homily at the Festival Of The Peoples Mass at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin this evening, Dr Martin said Ireland needs an "open and enlightened migration policy" which should not be suspicious of foreign immigrants.

Immigration was here to stay was we should celebrate immigrants' contribution to Ireland's economy, society and culture. He said Irish people should have a special understanding of the hardships faced by migrants, considering our own "harsh" history of emigration.

"Immigrants are not just units of economic policy; they are people, men and women, with families, with needs, with responsibilities, but also with talents and creativity, as well as their own culture and traditions," he said.

Foreigners resident here for five years or more should be given the opportunity to have their status regularised by law. "It would be a recognition of the dignity of those who have established roots in our society and who are contributing to the communities in which they live," he said.

However, legislation would not in itself be a solution to the problems caused by immigration. Ireland needs an "open, transparent, modern and enlightened" national migration policy for the long term, he argued. This should be "welcoming and integrating" from the beginning and any signs of tension should be tackled immediately.

Dr Martin also called for a strengthening of the protections offered to foreigners, adding that any abuses "should be vigorously prosecuted".

He warned that Irish society needs to be careful to avoid the emergence of ghettoes of ethnic groups who are left disadvantaged and frustrated. "Experience in other countries has shown how such situations can be exploited in a manner which brings benefit to no one," he said.

While not mentioning him by name, Dr Martin also issued an apparent riposte to Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte, who called for a reassessment of immigration policy in an interview in the Irish Timesthis week.

Mr Rabbitte said it may be time for an examination of the viability of introducing a work permits regime to protect Irish jobs from the threat posed by cheap foreign labour.

"There are many positive spin-offs from the diversity of labour here now but to say that that should for all time go unregulated I think has been thrown into question by the Irish Ferries dispute. There are 40 million or so Poles after all, so it is an issue we have to have a look at," Mr Rabbitte said.

But Dr Martin said tonight  that while lower labour costs were a significant factor, "it is people themselves who are the driving force" behind a successful economy .

"It is above all in enhancing human capacity and fostering partnership that we really enhance sustainable economic growth," he argued.

Tonight's vigil Mass in was attended by representatives from the Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Romanian, Filipino, Nigerian, Brazilian and Keralese Indian communities.

A 25-person specially-formed choir performed, with singers from all the communities attending the Mass. The service featured prayers and readings in different languages and a procession of members of the congregation dressed in their national costumes.