Unemployment among African immigrants could lead to a ‘dangerous legacy’
A “DANGEROUS legacy” awaits Ireland if startling stats on African unemployment are ignored, a top social policy academic has warned.
Speaking last week at a Dublin anti-racism conference organised by the Equality Authority and the European Network Against Racism, Professor Bryan Fanning of UCD said research that black immigrants are over nine times more likely to be unemployed than Irish nationals, “screams racism”.
Speaking afterwards to Metro Éireann, Prof Fanning said the stats – released in a 2008 study from the ESRI and Equality Authority – strongly indicate that “Ireland has a crisis on its hands”.
He continued: “That crisis hasn't manifested itself politically, but in the future, what are the next generation of African-Irish children going to make of how this first generation of policymakers, officials and leaders failed them?”
Prof Fanning pointed out that many former asylum seekers had been prohibited from working and accessing state educational and training services during the asylum-seeking process – and have found it difficult to get jobs during both boom and bust.
But making reference to figures from the 2006 census showing that just over 40 per cent of Nigerians had a third level qualification, the academic also referred to a “black-white colour line racism”, commenting: “The fact that very few of them are visible in our mainstream employment is a searing indictment of Irish society, its institutions and political leadership.
“Here we have identified a serious crisis, no less,” he continued. “This is a survey, a statistical means of garnering information, and the evidence line is fairly strong.
“We have indications that our level of black exclusion in Ireland goes beyond say, for example, the exclusion of immigrants in France or indeed the UK.”
He said the causes of this exclusion must be identified and action taken, but “a lack of leadership” exists on the issue.
Renee Dempsey, chief executive of the Equality Authority, told Metro Éireann the figures were “an issue of concern”, but “where we will take it right now is not something that I've a specific vision of at this moment”.
She said policy addressing the problem is ultimately a matter for the Government, which is “already well-informed about these statistics”.
Dempsey added that when instances of discrimination are revealed to the authority, “we can and will bring forward cases of discrimination under the various acts”.
Asked if the authority – whose previous chief executive Niall Crowley resigned last year after a 43 per cent cut in the body's budget – would be prepared to take on Government departments on allegations of institutional racism, she responded: “If there's a case to be made, and there's evidence for it.
“The Equality Authority has previously taken cases against public bodies as needed and private bodies as needed, and the same needs apply.”
