Minister stresses positive impact of migrants

Ireland must stand up to the challenge of becoming a more inclusive society, and open barriers that allow migrant workers to progress here, an immigration conference has heard.

Migrant workers now contribute 2.5 per cent of Ireland's gross national product (GNP), and Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan said immigrants joining the national workforce were definitely making a positive impact.

"Data from the last census shows there is a different profile to migration to Ireland. People arriving are predominantly in the 18 to 44-year-old age group, and these people are more likely to be qualified than the Irish workforce and are paying into and adding to our net wealth."

Mr Lenihan said Ireland now faced a "profound challenge" in ensuring immigrants did not end up in jobs which they were over-qualified for. Education and language schemes to help immigrants make progress were in the pipeline.

He was speaking at the Hard Gospel conference, which saw politicians and church leaders from across Ireland meet at the weekend to discuss how we can make progress and become a more intercultural society.

Rev Earl Storey, director of the Hard Gospel project, said the conference was "most timely because the Church of Ireland is really at a crossroads".

"Historically, churches in Ireland have drawn themselves along tribal boundaries. But now immigration to Ireland places a huge challenge on such shallow divisions."

The conference marked the culmination of a number of diocesan consultations on immigration which took place across the country.

Conference delegates participated in workshops designed to respond to the key concerns raised at the consultation meetings, which included guidelines for ecumenical and inter-faith events, responding to the needs of migrants, and positive approaches to integration in schools.

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said he welcomed Ireland's increasing diversity, and we could not have meaningful equality in a society that remained segregated.

The Archbishop of Armagh, Rev Alan Harper, said he hoped the conference would serve as a step in helping people to look out and reach out to immigrants.

"What we do not need is the false security of the ghetto, and the key to avoiding this will come from listening to the stories of others which helps to bring about what we all desire - integration."