For more than a decade now, Ireland has seen a growing immigrant population. We have understandably developed an international reputation as a place of opportunity and employment. Many immigrants have come here on our invitation through work permit schemes or State-supported employment drives. Nurses from the Philippines, doctors from India or labourers from Poland have all become part of the New Ireland. The new immigrant population also includes refugees, asylum seekers and those who have chosen to travel from other parts of the EU to work or study.
But more and more people are raising the legitimate question as to whether we are, as a State, responding adequately to the changing face of Ireland. Friction has emerged in a number of sectors where there is competition or a conflict of interest between immigrant communities and Irish citizens.
In the workplace, competition for labour – at times unfair competition, to the disadvantage of Irish workers – continues to be a source of concern, when immigrant workers are being offered wages to work below accepted pay agreements.
In primary schools, language difficulties and occasionally cultural or religious differences, pose significant challenges to an already pressurised environment for teachers and pupils in overcrowded classrooms.
In the housing markets, particularly the social housing market, competition for accommodation – whether we like to admit it or not – is causing tension and unfair criticism targeted at immigrants. In an overloaded health system we are experiencing similar pressures and the resentment that that provokes amongst some is a growing problem.
One of the fundamental problems is that there is not a sufficient distinction being made between the work permit system, the immigration system and the system for coping with asylum seekers and refugees.
The asylum process itself is simply not working as well as it should be, with decisions on asylum cases taking far too long. It sometimes takes up to three to four years to make a basic determination on an application for asylum. In the meantime, asylum seekers themselves are not allowed to pay their own way by working.
Other countries have shown how poor immigration policies can lead to racial tension, discrimination and, in extreme cases, violence and social division. Parts of the UK have seen the results of a lack of integration for immigrant populations. Racial tension in the US, particularly in southern states, provides further examples.
In Ireland we have an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other countries, as large scale immigration is a relatively recent phenomenon here. However, we are not giving immigration policies the priority they deserve at a Government level.
For the sake of the immigrant communities themselves, and the Irish population that are being impacted upon by the new challenges and opportunities that they pose, we need a dedicated minister at cabinet level with responsibility for the co-ordination of immigrant affairs. So many different Government departments have a role to play, from Education, Health, Enterprise and Employment to Social Welfare and Justice. That is why one person needs to be given the over-arching responsibility for the immigration brief, to deal with an issue that will continue to have an effect in Ireland for some time.
Simon Coveney is a Fine Gael TD and MEP. He is writing a weekly column for Metro Eireann
In the workplace, competition for labour – at times unfair competition, to the disadvantage of Irish workers – continues to be a source of concern, when immigrant workers are being offered wages to work below accepted pay agreements.
In primary schools, language difficulties and occasionally cultural or religious differences, pose significant challenges to an already pressurised environment for teachers and pupils in overcrowded classrooms.
In the housing markets, particularly the social housing market, competition for accommodation – whether we like to admit it or not – is causing tension and unfair criticism targeted at immigrants. In an overloaded health system we are experiencing similar pressures and the resentment that that provokes amongst some is a growing problem.
One of the fundamental problems is that there is not a sufficient distinction being made between the work permit system, the immigration system and the system for coping with asylum seekers and refugees.
The asylum process itself is simply not working as well as it should be, with decisions on asylum cases taking far too long. It sometimes takes up to three to four years to make a basic determination on an application for asylum. In the meantime, asylum seekers themselves are not allowed to pay their own way by working.
Other countries have shown how poor immigration policies can lead to racial tension, discrimination and, in extreme cases, violence and social division. Parts of the UK have seen the results of a lack of integration for immigrant populations. Racial tension in the US, particularly in southern states, provides further examples.
In Ireland we have an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other countries, as large scale immigration is a relatively recent phenomenon here. However, we are not giving immigration policies the priority they deserve at a Government level.
For the sake of the immigrant communities themselves, and the Irish population that are being impacted upon by the new challenges and opportunities that they pose, we need a dedicated minister at cabinet level with responsibility for the co-ordination of immigrant affairs. So many different Government departments have a role to play, from Education, Health, Enterprise and Employment to Social Welfare and Justice. That is why one person needs to be given the over-arching responsibility for the immigration brief, to deal with an issue that will continue to have an effect in Ireland for some time.
Simon Coveney is a Fine Gael TD and MEP. He is writing a weekly column for Metro Eireann
