PDs regret 'anomaly' barring non-EU citizens

The Progressive Democrats President, Mr Michael McDowell, has described a rule in the party's constitution that bars non-EU citizens from membership as "an anomaly".

The rule was exposed in a report published today that details the efforts by Irish political parties to include non-nationals in the electoral process.

Mr McDowell said the bar on non-EU citizens was an "undesired consequence" of a clause designed to broaden the party membership to include EU citizens. He insisted the party was liberal in outlook and espoused "the values of openness, inclusiveness and tolerance".

He insisted there were several non-EU nationals active in the party and the constitution was being reviewed to change the rule barring them from full membership.

The Positive Politicsstudy, commissioned by the Africa Research Centre, is largely critical of parties across the Irish spectrum. The six main political parties were questioned on their policies regarding immigrants and ethnic minorities in August this year.

Dr Bryan Fanning, from the Department of Social Policy and Social Work in UCD and one of the researchers of the report, said he did not wish to single out the Progressive Democrats in particular, as they were not alone in failing to include immigrants.

"All parties in Ireland lag behind Europe on this issue," he told ireland.com. He described the findings as a "damning indictment" of all the parties.

The report concludes that no Irish party possesses a distinct strategy to attract immigrants to take part in local or national politics and only one party, the Greens, has a non-EU national standing in next year's local elections.

However, it also concedes that there is an element of unwillingness on the part of immigrant communities to become involved.

It says there is an urgent need to integrate minorities into the political system of modern, multi-cultural Ireland to protect them from discrimination and racism.

It notes that Census 2002 shows there were over 120,000 non-EU nationals living in Ireland. There are no non-Irish TDs, MEPs or councillors.

All adults resident in Ireland, regardless of country of origin or status, are entitled to vote and run in local elections as long as they register. British citizens can vote in Dáil, European and local elections, other EU citizens may take part in European and local elections, while non-EU Citizens may vote at local elections only.