Prezentācijas sagatavota projekta „Imigrantu intereses pārstāvošo NVO kapacitātes stiprināšana” ietvaros. Projektu finansē Eiropas Trešo valstu valstspiederīgo integrācijas fonds. Projekta finansēšanas avoti - Fonds 75% un valsts budžeta līdzekļi 25%. Plašāk par projektu: http://www.providus.lv/public/27717.html

1. Consultative Mechanisms on Immigrant
Integration Policy
Immigrant Council of Ireland
Presentation by Jennifer Curtin
Email: communications@immigrantcouncil.ie
The conference takes place in the framework of the Project „Capacity building of NGOs
representing third country nationals” that is financed by the European Fund for Third Country
nationals (with 75% of funding coming from the Fund, and 25% from Latvian state budget).

2. ntroduction of the Immigrant Council of Ireland
(ICI)
 Background
 Vision
 Mission

3. Immigrant Council of Ireland
 Established in 2001 to deal with unprecedented rises in immigration.
 Independent human rights organisation.
 Advocates for the rights of immigrants and their families, and acts as
a catalyst for public debate and policy change.
 The ICI is also an Independent Law Centre.

4. mmigrant Council of Ireland
 One of the few independent law centre providing access to justice on
immigration matters
rovides direct support to migrants and their families;
upports infrastructure of information provision through work with other service
providers;
as extensive knowledge of immigration system to inform policy development
and advocacy;
ses casework and litigation to effect change.
 Advocates effectively.
 Creates public debate and discussion regarding migrants and their
families rights.
 Has an anti-racism service and monitoring mechanism.
 Provides specialised support to migrant women (anti trafficking work and

5. Strategic Goal
Influence and effect change on immigrant law and policy.
 Provide specialist immigration advocacy and support to
immigrant groups at particular risk.
 Contribute constructively to the public debate around
immigration and foster increased participation of immigrants in
relation to immigration reform.
 Collaborate with, and support other organisations who provide
services to immigrants and their families.
 Develop our organisation so that it is sustainable, effective, and
equitable and reflects Ireland’s diverse society and respects
human rights.

6. igration History of Ireland
 Traditionally a country of emigration.
 Vietnamese refugees – 1970s – 1980s.
 Bosnian refugees – 1990s.
 1994 onwards, onset of rapid economic growth, very large rise in
immigration.
 Asylum seekers: 1992 (39) – 2002 (11,598).
 Migrant workers: Employment permit, working visa/work
authorisation, business permission.
 International students: historic, increased substantially by the
Chinese.
 Programme refugees: 2000 (10 families); 2006 (40 families).
 New EU citizens – May 2004.
 Bulgarian and Romanian nationals – 2008 (no visa requirement
but not allowed to work without a work permit).

7.  2002-2006 saw very fast growth in the number of non-
nationals in Ireland, when the number doubled from 224,300
to 419, 733 in 4 years.
 2006 Census -10% of foreign descent (nearly 420,000)
 UK (103, 500 – 2002 and 112, 500 – 2006);
 Other EU 25 (38, 400 – 2002 and 163,200 – 2006);
 Rest of Europe (14,700 – 2002 and 24, 400 – 2006);
 Africa (21,000 – 2002 and 35,300 – 2006);
 Asia (21,800 – 2002 and 47,000 – 2006);
 USA (11,400 – 2002 and 12,500 – 2006) and
 Other countries (11,200 – 2002 and 22,400 – 2006)

8.  Top Countries of Birth of the Irish
Population (2006)
 Ireland 3,559,284
 England and Wales 204,746
 Poland 63,090
 Northern Ireland 50,172
 USA 25,181
 Lithuania 24,808
 Scotland 16,863
 Nigeria 16,677
 Latvia 13,999
 China 11,218

9. Between 2006 and 2011 the number of
non-Irish nationals, increased by 124,624
persons, or 29.7 per cent, from 419,733
to 544,357.

11. istory of the Irish Consultative Body: Ministerial
Council on Integration
ffice for the Minister of Migrant Integration established.
ow has become the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration. Since
March 2011,there is no Minister now responsible for integration.
ffice publishes a policy statement in 2008 entitled “Migration Nation”
where the Irish government declares a commitment to the establishing of
a Ministerial Council on Integration.
o assist and reflect the changed dynamic of migration into Ireland.
o give advice to the Minister directly on issues faced by migrants.

12. pplication Process of the Ministerial Council on
Integration
otice inviting expressions of interest from migrants for
appointment to the Council.
ublished in the National press on the 2nd June 2010 and in
the Regional Press shortly thereafter.
ust fewer than 500 valid applications were received in the
Office of the Minister for Integration before the closing date
of the 7th July 2010.

13. Characteristics
• Unpaid and voluntary.
• Applicants for appointment to the Council were required to have been
legally residing in the State for more than two years or to have acquired
citizenship.
• Asylum seekers or subsidiary protection were not included.
• Members of the Council appointed for a period of five years.
• In making these appointments, the Minister took into account factors such
as the need to have a balance between countries of origin, places of
residence in Ireland and the desirability of having an appropriate gender
balance.
• It was open to individual migrants – didn’t have to be a member of a NGO
or a group to apply.
• Broad experiences and views of people who come from a broad spectrum
of cultural and religious backgrounds and countries of origin were
welcomed.
• Intending applicants were to forward a Curriculum Vitae (stating country of
origin also) and a covering letter outlining their background and the
reasons they consider themselves suitable for appointment to the
Ministerial Council to the Office of the Minister for Integration.

14. Ministerial Council on Integration
• The Council was to meet in regional formation and to consist of 15
to 20 members in each region.
• Four regional forums to engage directly with migrants.
• A Connacht/ Ulster forum which consisted of 15 members and met
on October 7th 2010 for the first time.
• A Dublin forum which consisted of 20 members and met on October
14th 2010 for the first time.
• A Rest of Leinster forum which consisted of 19 members and
convened on November 1st 2010 for the first time.
• A Munster forum which consisted of 20 members and convened on
November 11th 2010 for the first time.
• Meetings of the Regional Forums of the Council were to take place
approximately 2/ 3 times a year. A press release would be issued
following each regional forum.
• The Minister would chair meetings of the Council.

15. ssues discussed/ achieved by the Ministerial
Council
atermarks on Birth Certificates
ree Conversation English Classes
elp for parents in finding a school where their child’s mother tongue is
taught.
ccess to Third Level Education

16. Critique
• Many migrant activists who were not successful were informed that
the Minister was keen on ‘normal’ migrants as opposed to those
affiliated with NGOs.
• 5 who were unsuccessful told our Integration Manager that that they
felt they had been excluded as they were familiar with the system,
and civil servants felt they ‘would have been difficult to handle’. In
their view, normal meant those who were not likely to ask the hard
questions.
• Not a transparent system of application. Did not specify that it wanted
‘normal’ applicants and was purely at the discretion of the Minister.
• No laws requiring official authorities to respond to the
recommendations of the Ministerial Council, it is purely advisory.
• Purely advisory for the outset, suggests that the policy makers did
not anticipate the Council becoming a space for making policy
recommendations. Purely symbolic/ tokenistic?

17. Critique
• No clear objectives or mandate.
• Names of those involved in running the Ministerial Council was not
displayed.
• Perhaps more effective if individuals are affiliated to NGOS, the
individual is then responsible to their NGO -ensures that particular
issues are voiced.
• Did not last very long, and only two meetings held. New government
took office in March 2011 with no Integration Minister, the council
has not met since.
• Did not last long enough to ascertain its influence on policy making
in the areas of immigration and integration.

18. ho responds to challenges faced by migrants in
Ireland
ivil society has been advocating for political leadership on areas of migration
and integration.
ivil society orgs. have been responding to the challenges faced by migrants -
providing services including information, advice, support and in some cases
legal information.
igrant-led organisations such as New Communities Partnership, AKIDWA,
Africa Centre have been active in promoting social, cultural and political
integration.
ave been commissioning research projects aimed at documenting the
experiences of migrants in Ireland.