THE CHINESE New Year may have begun in earnest, but nationals of east Asia’s superpower who want an Irish work permit will have little to celebrate.
As Ireland’s economic woes intensify, it has emerged that the number of work permits issued to Chinese people has decreased from 1,188 in 2007 to 661 in 2008. And it was a fact included in Integration Minister Conor Lenihan’s Chinese New Year press release, issued this week to mark the Chinese Year of the Ox.
“I would like to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year,” said Minister Lenihan. While the number of Chinese people coming to our shores has greatly decreased, the Chinese remain a valued part of our society.”
He added: “In Dublin there is a week of activities planned which I am pleased to be part funding. I would encourage everyone who has the opportunity to attend some of the Chinese New Year celebrations this year to do so as celebrations like this help to bring us all together as a community.”
Under the Immigrant Integration Small Grants Scheme for 2008, the Irish Council for Chinese Social Services/Irish Chinese Information Centre was granted €5,000 in funding.
Information about the events planned as part of the Dublin City Chinese New Year Festival can be found at www.dublin.ie/cny.
