Migrant integration vital, conference told

The kind of racial tensions witnessed in France over the past fortnight could happen here if we don't get our immigration policy right, a major conference on international labour has heard.

Patrick Taran, senior migration specialist with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), was speaking at a conference on the issue convened by the ILO and co-hosted by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu), the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) and the Church Commission for Migrants in Europe.

He said immigration was needed but that it brought change that needed to be managed.

"That means stopping discrimination, treating people equally and fostering integration on both sides - immigrants and national. If Ireland doesn't get it right, the trouble in France could happen here someday."

David Begg, general secretary of Ictu, said Irish people were well capable of mistreating immigrants. "After the events of this week, which revealed our own version of the Morecambe Bay cockle-pickers incident, can anybody doubt that Irish people are capable of treating their fellow human beings badly?

"The consequences of not getting our public policy on labour market reform right are potentially very serious, " he said.

Also yesterday, chairwoman of the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) Sr Stanislaus Kennedy said information about rights was key to empowering immigrants "to take their rightful place in society". She was speaking at the publication of a series of information leaflets for immigrants.

The ICI had seen a "massive 72 per cent increase" in calls from immigrants needing information about their rights in the year to the end of July, compared with the year to end of July 2004.

It received on average 375 calls a month in the year to July 31st, compared with 214 per month in the previous year. A significant proportion of the increase could be attributed to changes in immigration legislation and confusion caused as a result.

Sr Kennedy said the "ever-increasing demands on the ICI's services . . . highlights again the need for Government to provide adequate funding".

The ICI is an independent non-government organisation that does not receive core funding for its day-to-day work.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan, who was at the publication event, agreed the work of the ICI was "very important".

The four ICI booklets explain immigrants' rights on:

• long-term residency and citizenship;

• leave to remain;

• international students;

• family reunification.

They are available in six languages - English, Chinese, Romanian, Russian, French and Arabic.

Meanwhile, today the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland will publish a leaflet aimed at migrant workers, particularly those most vulnerable, in unregulated sectors such as domestic work.

The ICI booklets will be available through Citizen's Information Centres, Family Resource Centres and immigrant support bodies.