ICI calls on government to address uncertainties

Lack of certainty about their futures and bureaucratic barriers keeping family members apart are two of the biggest issues preventing effective integration of migrants in Ireland, the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) said today.

CEO Denise Charlton told Minister for Integration Policy Conor Lenihan – who visited the ICI's Dublin premises today – that the ICI welcomed the government's commitment, in its programme for government, to take a revised and broader view of social inclusion.

“We welcome the government's commitment to develop a national integration policy, but believe that this can't be achieved in isolation from the need to ensure immigration policies are fair and transparent”, Charlton said.

“It's not realistic to expect a migrant to be able to effectively integrate into Irish society if they don't know how long they will be allowed to stay, if the government repeatedly rejects their requests to have their families with them here, or if they are suffering financial hardship because their spouse has been allowed to join them but denied permission to work.

“The ICI believes the government needs to take a more strategic, long-term approach to immigration and integration policies, which should be part of a shared vision of on the future development of Irish society.”

Charlton called on the government to consult widely with migrants and their support organisations when developing the national integration policy.

Lenihan visited the ICI to meet with several of its clients, who outlined their experiences to him, such as concerns about access to education for their children, housing difficulties and the need for English language tuition.

Charlton presented Lenihan with the ICI's assessment of priority areas for action on immigration and integration within the programme for government.

The document calls on the government to recognise the links between immigration and integration policies and to ensure migrants and support groups are consulted in the development of the national integration policy.