The Government is emphasising the importance of immigration in plans to fast-track Ireland’s economic recovery, the Minister of Justice has said.
“The immigration system can significantly aid economic activity and it is my priority that the system is utilised to the greatest extent possible in that respect,” announced Minister Alan Shatter in his New Year plan for the sector.
“In particular, the promotion of the Visa Waiver Programme in the context of the London Olympics will be a key priority with the aim of boosting tourism and visitors to Ireland.
“Similarly,” he added, “new initiatives targeted at immigrant investors and entrepreneurs will be prioritised with the purpose of attracting inward investment and job creation.”
To this end, he said plans are at an advanced stage to launch a start-up entrepreneur programme exclusively for immigrants.
The minister said both initiatives for immigrant investors and entrepreneurs would be tailored along the lines successful programmes internationally, and aimed at attracting major investment as well as job creation in Ireland.
Meanwhile, the Integration Centre has warmly welcomed the Government’s news.
“Research we conducted in collaboration with the ESRI… highlighted the fact that immigrant entrepreneurship in Ireland was surprisingly low, which is probably due to the fact that the rules around business creation were more restrictive than enticing,” said a spokesperson.
Metro Éireann has long highlighted the need to launch a comprehensive entrepreneurship programme for immigrants as practiced in other countries. In 2007 this newspaper established the Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year programme, which was launched by President Mary McAleese.
One of the highlights of this initiative – which is scheduled to make a comeback this year – was the Best Business Idea award, which targeted immigrants with innovative business plans throughout the island of Ireland.
Winners of the awards partook in an exclusive mentoring programme in Dublin and London with Aidan Heavey, founder and chief executive of Tullow Oil.
The Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year programme was sponsored by permanent tsb, Tullow Oil, The Bowen Group, The Irish Times, Communicorp Group and Newstalk 106-108 FM.
