DUBLIN—A new study published on Monday showed that Ireland had significant room to improve in enabling immigrants to integrate into Irish society.
Spain, Portugal, the US and Scandinavian countries lead the way in helping immigrants feel at home in their new environment.
The study was published by the British Council and the Migration Policy Group. The Migration Policy Group is an independent non-profit European think-tank committed to “contributing to lasting and positive change resulting in open and inclusive societies”.
According to the report, “The boom transformed Ireland into a country of immigration but, with the crisis, net emigration has returned for the moment.”
It stated: “Government is restricting family access to work, increasing fees and cutting funds, including for the Equality Authority, which may undermine its anti-discrimination work. These exacerbate the effect of the crisis on immigrants, who are already more likely to lose jobs.
“Ireland is further falling behind when other countries improve political participation, naturalisation and, thanks to EU law, family reunion and long-term residence.”
According to the report, key changes that impacted Ireland’s ranking appear to be connected to the recession and penny pinching by government departments.
In 2008, the Irish government closed Integrate Ireland Language and Training Centre (IILT). According to their website, the IILT was established to “meet the language and training needs of children and adults from very diverse cultural and educational backgrounds who need language skills and information to live and work in their adopted country.”
The government was also criticised for raising the cost of fees that need to be paid in order to become a naturalised Irish citizen to 950 euro.
The report was critical of changes for work permit arrangements for migrant workers, making it harder for them to be joined by family members.
Commenting on the launch of the Migration Integration Policy Index III, Matt Burney, Director of British Council Ireland said: “Our aim with this third phase of MIPEX is to provide reliable information to governments, civic institutions and the wider public to compare migrant integration policies across countries and over time. This will act as a catalyst to engage these groups in more informed discussion on best practice which will, hopefully, lead to improved policies across the whole of the EU.”
Although the fact that Fine Gael failed to mention migrants in its manifesto for government may give cause for concern, the Labour party did state that “Labour in government will enact comprehensive and transparent legislation on immigration within 12 months, setting out the rights and obligations involved.”
The Labour manifesto also stated that “The Labour Party will promote policies which integrate minority ethnic groups in Ireland, and which promote social inclusion, equality, diversity, and the participation of immigrants in the economic, social, political and cultural life of their communities.”
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