‘Realising the promise of a diverse Ireland’ was the aim of a workshop encouraging dialogue on intercultural policing and access to third level education in Dublin last week. The event, a collaborative initiative between Metro Éireann and the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University in the USA featured local and international participants from all walks of life.
Addressing issues around access to education, speakers highlighted the strong need for the marginalised to have the opportunity to study at third level. Residency in Ireland, college fees and peer pressure were among some of the major problems affecting immigrant participation.
Former NCI student union president Mayowa Soyingbe told participants that exorbitant fees have forced some migrants to drop out of college. She urged those in authority to create programmes that will encourage immigrants to go on to third level education.
On the matter of policing, panellists and participants raised the strong need for gardaí to be trained in cultural diversity. They also stressed the importance of better communication from the Garda when dealing with immigrants, and called for minorities to support efforts being made in intercultural policing.
The workshop also heard that positive aspects of diversity as a source of energy, creativity and wealth can only be harnessed when the negatives associated with it, including social conflict and exclusionary policies are addressed. That can only happen when the authorities and policy makers become proactive in handling their diversity agenda.
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