State facing challenges to its strategy of openness

Anecdotal evidence suggests the State's strategy to be open for international trade, investment and employment faces several problems. The incident at Dublin Airport last weekend, when a group of business people from Pakistan were detained at Mountjoy on the say-so of immigration officials, showed up a possible difficulty. The internationalisation of the Irish economy has brought many benefits to people living here, to those who have returned from abroad and to newcomers too. It looks a bit hollow in the light of this most recent, and many other lesser and unreported, slights to visitors to our shores.

The internationalisation policy is becoming increasingly dependent on the small but critical link in the public policy chain that is immigration control.

Immigration officials formed a judgment as they must - indeed, as all systems that are not robotically-operated must rely on. While accepting that they acted within their discretion and according to their professional obligations, it can be the case that the right procedure gives the wrong result. If something systemic is amiss, it should be addressed. It is one challenge for Government policy to foster a cultural climate where the ebb and flow of international investors, traders, workers and managers is accommodated with ease and grace. It is a more basic challenge, for which Government must be held directly accountable, to operate administrative processes in ways that are fair and respectful of the human rights of non-citizens, whatever about being consistent with strategic economic goals.

As a matter of public policy, we are entitled to be certain that our public administration is colour-blind. In addition to basic justice, that is a sine qua non for an internationally trading, investing and working economy and society. It is certainly a norm in international business best practice. It was for this reason that it was very damaging for Coca-Cola to have been found to be institutionally racist in the US. In business, we would be horrified if there were official suspicion towards our English Pakistani, American Pakistani or, dare I say, Pakistani Pakistani business contacts arriving at Dublin airport (let alone Irish people of non-Irish ethnic origin). If any agency of the State, especially those in sensitive areas, were unable to demonstrate that it fulfils the minimum standard of colour-blind respect for human rights, and does so by way of observable procedures, then its management and staff deserve to be fired. Period. The internationalisation of the Irish economy must remain an enduring trend. There are many mindset changes that it has brought about, and will continue to require. One point raised this week was if it matters any more whether the State should have "indigenous" banks. The question is worth returning to as an economic issue but, as a matter of people and management capability, it is related to the type of workforce we have here and how we participate in international labour and management pools. Forfas's International Trade and Investment Report last September said: "While multinationals have provided an effective training ground for Irish managers in finance, logistics and engineering . . . the high share of intra-firm trade in total Irish trade may suggest the absence of a large pool of workers skilled at export marketing." I would add, skilled at general and strategic management too. The question is, as the bankers ask, does this matter? Do we have to "own" export management, and general and strategic management skills, in this economy, or can we "participate" in them by operating in a wider pool?

Assuming for a moment that the answer is that we can best seek to participate in a wider international management pool in Europe, then we are right back to how open and accommodating we are culturally, administratively and in Government policy to that international labour skill set.

In that context, the incident at Dublin Airport is quite a critical, symbolic wake-up call, especially as it is ringing out over the international press wires.

Oliver O'Connor is contributing editor at Finance and Finance Dublin.

E-mail:ooconnor@indigo.ie