There were more negative attitudes towards non-Irish people living in Ireland last year than in the early 2000s, according to a new report.
The Integration Centre’s Annual Monitoring Report on Integration, which used data from the European Social Survey, also found a “consistent poverty rate” among non-EU nationals at over 12 per cent – nearly twice that of Irish nationals in 2010 – and that “the gap between Irish and non-EU nationals has widened since 2008”.
In unemployment figures, the rate for non-Irish nationals at the beginning of 2012 was 18.5 per cent, compared to less than 15 per cent for Irish nationals.
“Overall non-Irish nationals have been harder hit in the labour market by the current recession than Irish nationals,” the report states.
The report also measured different aspects of immigrant inclusion in Irish society, using a range of indicators.
Specifically on changing Irish attitudes to non-Irish nationals, the report says that Irish people’s “openness to immigration, or willingness to accept immigrants, has fallen in recent years.
“For example, in 2002 just six per cent of Irish nationals said no immigrants from poor non-EU countries should be allowed; in 2010, 22 per cent said none should be allowed into Ireland. ”
“The evidence seems to suggest that rapid growth in the immigrant population, followed by economic recession, has resulted in increased concerns about, and resistance to, immigration in Ireland,” said report author Dr Frances McGinnity.
Welcoming the finding, Integration Centre chief executive Killian Forde said: “The gap in unemployment rates between migrants and Irish has not increased, but that gap remains substantial and real.
“The key to successful integration is proactive Government policy and a tolerant, welcoming host population. On the former we have none, and the latter negative attitudes towards migrants are increasing.
Forde added: “The Government as a matter of urgency need to create a national policy on integration, and co-ordinate activities between government departments on integration.”
