ICI News BulletinIssue 36 - Thursday February 12, 2009

"Pathways to Parental Leadership" research seminar
Govt must maintain its commitment to integration: Sr Stan Kennedy
ICI calls on TDs to end criticism of migrant workers
Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill update
Narratives of Diversity in Europe seminar
Trafficking research project nears completion
Launch of one-stop-shop project handbook

"Pathways to Parental Leadership" research seminar
The ICI outlined the preliminary findings of the first stage of its "Pathways to Parental Leadership" research project at a joint session of its transnational steering committee and advisory committee at UCD yesterday.

This phase of the research, which involved qualitative interviews with school principals, teachers and other staff, identified lack of English language proficiency as a significant barrier to maximising migrant parents' involvement in their children's school life. The interviews also revealed that schools are developing a range of innovative ways to encourage parental involvement.

The seminar was also a platform for sharing learning by participants from Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and Germany. ICI Founder Sr Stan Kennedy opened the seminar, which also was addressed by Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan.

Govt must maintain its commitment to integration: Sr Stan Kennedy
The Government must resist any temptation to make further cuts to funding for integration if it is serious about wanting to "prevent the mistakes" of other countries, in terms of their experiences of immigration, from happening here, ICI Founder Sr Stan Kennedy said yesterday.

Sr Stan told the "Pathways to Parental Leadership" research project seminar at UCD yesterday that any dilution of the Government's commitment to developing and implementing effective integration policies in relation to education could have a lasting impact on the educational achievement of migrant children or the children of migrants and effectively promote segregation.

"It is crucial that the work that has begun in Ireland in terms of integration policy development is allowed to continue and that there are no further cut backs in resources to schools which will impact hardest on the most vulnerable students," Sr Stan said.

"As a country, we have only taken the first steps towards developing and implementing integration policies and strategies. Now is not the time to curtail this work as social harmony and cohesion in the future may well depend on it."

ICI calls on TDs to end criticism of migrant workers
Chief Executive Denise Charlton has called on TDs to think about the consequences of their actions if they try to lay the blame for Ireland's economic woes at the feed of migrants.

Denise said recent calls by two TDs for a "clampdown" on work permits for non-EU citizens illustrate a lack of understanding of Ireland's immigration system, would not help create jobs and may generate unnecessary resentment in the community.

"There are already tough criteria that must be met before a work permit can be issued, including a labour market test to see if a suitably qualified Irish or EU citizen is able to take the job," Denise said.

Despite the current high unemployment rate in Ireland, there would still be jobs that can't be filled locally. In addition, many migrants now call Ireland home and the TDs' comments could create resentment against people with a right to live here and whose contributions are valued and necessary.

The number of work permits issued and renewed has fallen significantly over the past year.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill update
The Immigrant Council of Ireland has begun lobbying Senators to seek the amendment of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008.

The ICI remains concerned about aspects of the legislation which are unclear, unfair and in breach of Ireland's constitution and international human rights obligations. The ICI's submissions to Senators include a series of detailed suggested amendments aimed at overcoming these serious problems.

The Bill has been debated at Committee Stage but has yet to reach Report Stage. After that, it will be debated in the Senate.

Narratives of Diversity in Europe seminar
Research and Integration Officer Fidèle Mutwarasibo gave a presentation to the Narratives of Diversity in Europe seminar in Berlin recently on the need to ensure migrants have the opportunity to participate in public discourse on migration, integration and diversity.

Fidèle argued that migrants are often absent from public discussion on these issues and, although some migrants may need support to engage in such public discourse, the support should not be paternalistic.

The seminar brought together museum curators, academics, researchers and migrants from the UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Luxemburg, France, the Netherlands and Ireland. It was a follow up to a seminar held in Berlin in October 2008, entitled, "Migration in Museums: Narratives of Diversity in Europe". For further information, please contact Fidèle – http://us.mc317.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=fidele@immigrantcouncil.ie

Trafficking research project nears completion
The advisory committee for the ICI's research project examining the intersection of sex trafficking, migration and the Irish sex industry held its final meeting last week to comment on the draft report prepared by the researchers.

The committee's shared opinion was that the research was very complex, the first of its kind in Ireland and would fill a gap in information about the issue of trafficking and exploitation of migrant women in Ireland.

The committee has met four times since the research was commissioned in late 2007 to provide support and comment on the researchers' work. For more information, please contact ICI Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Nusha Yonkova – http://us.mc317.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nusha@immigrantcouncil.ie

Launch of one-stop-shop project handbook
Research and Integration Officer Fidèle Mutwarasibo highlighted the need to ensure that public services delivery to migrants respects their dignity during his presentation at the launch of a handbook on one-stop-shop service provision to migrants.

The handbook, launched in Lisbon last Friday (February 6), was jointly produced by a transnational advisory committee for the EU-sponsored project. The ICI was Ireland's representative on the committee. In his presentation, Fidèle said adoption of the one-stop-shop model would send a positive message to migrants.

Other speakers at the launch included Professor Rinus Penninx of the IMISCOE Network of Excellence, University of Amsterdam, Schiefer Martin, deputy head of the Immigration and Integration Unit, European Commission, Michele Klein Solomon, Director of Migration Policy, Research and Communications, IOM Geneva, Pedro Silva Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of Council of Ministers, Portugal, and Christos Zois, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Greece. The handbook can be accessed at http://www.oss.inti.acidi.gov.pt/

For further information, please contact Fidèle – http://us.mc317.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=fidele@immigrantcouncil.ie