The Taoiseach is expected to appoint a new Minister of State to oversee the integration of immigrants in Ireland, when he announces details of the three new junior ministers in the new Government – four good years after Metro Eireann first made the suggestion.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who gave the indication recently, said the three new positions – which could include the elderly, immigration and education – would be a way of ensuring that significant achievements are made in those areas. These will bring the number of junior ministers to a total of 21.
If the Taoiseach goes ahead with the plan, he will clearly be fulfilling part of Fianna Fáil’s 2007 election manifesto, which promised to “create an Office of the Minister for the Integration of Immigrants under the direction of a dedicated Minister of State to implement the national integration policy.
“The Office will bring together in one administrative unit key officials from relevant government departments who provide services to immigrants.”
Other parties in Government made similar pledges in this regard. The Green Party manifesto proposed a Ministry of State for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in the Department of the Taoiseach; while the PD manifesto advocated the transfer of the ‘equality’ function from the Department of Justice to “the new Department of Social and Equality Affairs, with responsibility for integration policy”. The Green Party, Labour and Sinn Féin were strongly in support of a Minister for Ethnic Affairs back in 2003.
Metro Eireann understands that the new junior minister is expected to be under the Department of the Taoiseach. The move, it is believed, would see the Dep-artment of Justice’s Reception and Integration Agency, which currently directs integration issues, transferred to the Taoiseach’s department.
Asked to confirm whether or not this area will be moved to another department, a spokes-person for the Department of Justice said: “As it will be the Taoiseach who will announce such appointments, I would suggest you contact the Government Press Office directly.”
However, a Government Press Office spokesperson told Metro Eireann he would not be able to disclose information about the proposed ministry because such information would be decided upon at a Cabinet meeting. The spokes-person said there was to be such a meeting on Wednesday (yesterday), Tuesday and the following Tuesday, but that that the press office “is not privy” to what will be on the agenda. At press time, an announcement seemed imminent
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have greeted the proposed appointment. While pro-immigrant organisations, including the Immigrant Council of Ireland, have welcomed the initiative, the Labour Party has said that the cost of running the three proposed ministries will amount to about 1.2m euro per annum, according to a statement from the party’s environment spokesperson Eamon Gilmore.
