Yearly updates in immigration law predicted

It may be necessary to introduce an immigration Bill in the Dáil annually to keep pace with changes brought about by migration in Ireland, the Minister for Integration, Conor Lenihan, said yesterday.

Describing migration as one of "the most dynamic areas of government" he said legislation would have to be adapted accordingly. He also said that a taskforce to develop medium and long-term policies would be set up by the Office of Integration by the middle of next year.

An immigrant-led ministerial council for integration would also be set up to advise the Office of Integration, and it was planned to establish a commission on integration in 2009.

Meanwhile, a cross-departmental group report on integration, prepared by senior officials, had already been presented to the Cabinet, while those officials who had prepared the report would continue to meet on the issue, he said.

Mr Lenihan was speaking at a policy workshop on integration - The Chance to Get it Right - organised by his office, which took place at Croke Park. It was attended by representatives of various migrant bodies in Ireland as well as of those with an interest in the area.

It was the first such consultation exercise with stakeholders in the area since the Office of Integration was set up six months ago, but the third such consultation with relevant representatives of late. The previous two consultations took place under the auspices of the Department of Justice.

The Minister said that the proposed ministerial council for integration would be aimed at those migrants who felt their voice was not being directly heard. It would act as an informal advisory body for his office and would include migrant representatives from every county. It will meet three or four times a year.

The Minister also said he was pleased with the finances that will be granted to his office in today's Budget. It was "very much a start-up allocation", he said, which would be seen as "generous" in the context of pressure on his senior colleagues in Government to cut back.

He spoke of his "supreme personal hope and ambition for a consultative process" where integration was concerned, and where he "as Minister, will be a focus for a certain amount of unity".

He believed the changes in Irish society being brought about by inward migration were huge and said "we really do have to bring our own population with us as the people of Ireland settle down to the idea of integration".

In that context 2008 would be "a hugely important year", he said.

The chairman of yesterday's opening session, John Haskins of the Office of Integration, said that getting integration right was "a challenge for all" and "not simply a matter for the State". He noted that other countries were still trying to get it right after 40 to 50 years. Yesterday's consultation was about "exploring the idea of getting it right", he said.