The Integration Centre - Connecting Communities Advancing Integration is committed to the integration and inclusion of people from immigrant backgrounds in Ireland. The Centre specializes in planning, monitoring and advocacy at city, local, national and international levels and provides regionalized information, advice and training services. Evidence-based research influences positive change in legislation, policy and practice. We have more than 250 affiliated organisations as part of our network.
If you would like to find out more about us or if you would like to support our work contact: Helena Clarke, Communications and Media Executive, The Integration Centre, 1st & 2nd Floors, 18 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland; Tel: +353 16453070; Fax: +353 1677 0061; helena.clarke@integrationcentre.ie; www.integrationcentre.ie.
Contents
News
• The Current Climate - Cold and Getting Colder
• Citizenship: The Long Wait for Recognition
• Ireland: An Immigrant’s View
• The Yellow Flag Programme
• ‘Women Count For Peace’
Events
Information and Advocacy Clinics
News
The Current Climate – Cold and Getting Colder
Political uncertainty and bleak economic forecasts dominate Ireland’s airwaves and national psyche as we prepare for the toughest budget in recent history. The financial crisis in Ireland and subsequent €85 billion EU-IMF bailout package announced by Government last night has created unprecedented levels of concern and debate in this country and internationally.
The Dáil is meeting on 30th November to consider the bailout package and its implications. Already the Opposition parties have unilaterally condemned use of the National Pension Reserve Fund from which the Government promised €10 billion to further shore up Irish banks as part of an additional €35 billion which may now be required. €7.5 billion will also be contributed by the National Treasury Management Agency and the external contribution will include €67.5 billion in EU loans from the UK, Sweden and Denmark and the IMF.
The sheer scale of this bailout is unprecedented in Irish history and there is no doubt its implications will be felt by ordinary households for years to come. Irish and Immigrant families alike will struggle with the road ahead which is paved, not with gold, but with additional taxes, reductions in the minimum wage, decreases in social welfare and reduced employment. It is critical at this time that the voices of those most vulnerable in our communities are listened to and heard. Josephine Ahern, CEO of The Integration Centre has spoken publicly on the need for Government to ensure that those most in need are not put further at risk of in terms of poverty. Also interviewed last Thursday evening on Prime Time, she spoke of the detrimental impact that broken policy can have on immigrants, including those seeking the protection of Ireland.
Citizenship – The Long Wait for Recognition
The granting of citizenship by a country is a privilege for the individual involved and The Integration Centre’s Information & Advocacy Service has successfully assisted many people through what is often a demanding and challenging process in Ireland. In 2010, the majority of queries and casework dealt with by the Service to date have concerned citizenship and other key integration issues such as reunion with family members, legal documentation and renewal or change in residential status. Also in 2010, The Integration Centre delivered comprehensive training on the citizenship application process throughout the five regions in which the organisation is based in order to further mainstream the organisation’s expertise. The training was funded by The Citizens Information Board and Community Foundation of Ireland.
Being granted citizenship brings with it a whole new array of responsibilities. In Ireland the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for deciding who is eligible for citizenship and decisions are made in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 to 2004. There are different grounds on which a person can apply and they include by; birth in Ireland, descent, or via naturalisation due to long term residence or marriage to an Irish person.
The Irish Government’s websites www.justice.ie, www.inis.ie and www.citizensinformationboard.ie are useful resources. From the experience gained in assisting people with their applications over many years, The Integration Centre now seeks legislative, policy and procedural improvements as they relate to Government articulating a clear pathway to citizenship for applicants; clear timeframes in which applications will be dealt with and clear procedures. Checks and balances in the system are to be maintained, once again to ensure that Ministerial Discretion is exercised in a fair and transparent manner.
Ireland: an Immigrant’s View
The Integration Centre’s remit is to present and promote the views and needs of immigrants living in Ireland and to contribute to a constructive dialogue over what ‘being integrated’ or ‘included’ means at this juncture in our history. The following short interview with Sanjeev Kawal, originally from Mauritius, and who has lived in Ireland for three years is the first in this series.
“I chose to come to Ireland for a number of reasons. It is easy to communicate as English is the spoken language and some of my friends were already here. I came to study Information Technology and I work part-time as a cleaner to help with this. One of the biggest problems immigrants face in Ireland is in finding jobs, and everything is expensive, rent, food – it is really hard to save money.
Integration in Ireland is easier. People are friendly and like to socialise and it is not so different from home as the food and social life are similar. There are people who are racist and who do not like immigrants. The kids on the streets sometimes do not behave well and authorities are not always sympathetic. But I love it here and my wife does too. I do miss home and especially my friends and family. I go back every two years and still feel that Mauritius is my home. I don’t know how long I will stay in Ireland; it depends on the economy and on whether I can support myself.”
The Yellow Flag Programme
The Integration Centre is sitting on the steering committee of the pilot Yellow Flag Programme which provides a series of practical steps that bring issues of interculturalism, equality and diversity into the whole-school programme and facilitates schools to apply them to their day to day running. It works with students, staff, management, parents and the wider community so that issues of diversity and equality are understood within this broader context.
In parallel with Green Schools, the Yellow Flag Programme is both a practical and an award scheme. Completion of the eight steps will result in a school receiving the "yellow flag" for diversity. The aims are that the programme will improve the whole-school environment for all; that it will promote diversity in schools and the wider community; involve local communities and groups; gain local publicity and prestige for the school and its students; and create links with other schools in Ireland and abroad. This excellent initiative allows young people to take responsibility for diversity and helps them to learn about topics which generally lie outside curricula. It also equips them for the modern world. For information, or to get involved in supporting the programme contact the Irish Traveller Movement at 01-6796577 or email educationitm@gmail.com
‘Women Count for Peace’
“Sustainable peace is possible only with women’s full participation — their perspectives, their leadership, their daily, equal presence wherever we seek to make and keep the peace.”
Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General
The Integration Centre participated in The National Women’s Council of Ireland’s (NWCI) workshop on Women, Peace and security on 17th November in the Royal Irish Academy. Perspectives and ideas on the needs of women during peace processes were discussed alongside their active role in Peace Initiatives.
The NWCI brought people together to facilitate dialogue and to inform the Government’s stance on the issue. Priority was given to women affected by conflict and to practical discussions on a National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which advocates for women’s protection, perspectives, participation and needs within peace processes. The workshop brought together migrant women from post-conflict countries and areas to share their experiences as victims of armed conflict and all agreed on the importance of security, truth recovery, empowerment, and peace building as significant needs in such processes.
It was also agreed that these be considered as primary definers in the National Action Plan as led by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Representatives also suggested an assessment of services provided to women seeking asylum and said better training and education for service providers is essential in order to appropriately address the needs of migrant women, particularly those from conflict regions. Participants called on Government and other key organisations to monitor Gender based Violence and sexual exploitation of women and to give more attention to their legal protection.
Events
The Integration Centre’s website will be launched next month at: www.integrationcentre.ie.
Photo Opportunity: Steve McCullagh is looking for immigrants to participate in a studio based portrait project involving the immigrant community in Ireland, particularly families who have been reunited. He wants people who are willing to travel to the studio in Dun laoghaire during the week, between 10am and 7pm. Participants will not be paid, however they will get to keep a set of prints from the photo shoot. For further information visit www.stevemccullagh.com / http://stevemccullagh.daportfolio.com/ or phone 086-2271068 / 012871408
Dublin AIDS Alliance is hosting ‘Open Day’ information on HIV and Sexual Health. The event will take place on Wednesday 1st December in 53 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1.Time is 11:00am to 3:00pm. For further information call Niamh on 01-8733799 or email ceas@dublinaidsalliance.ie
Bray Women’s Refuge is organising An Awareness Raising Seminar ‘Domestic Violence: Youth Matters’, information on Domestic Abuse and its Effects in Ramada Hotel, Bray, Co Wicklow. Date is Wednesday 1st December 2010. Time is 9am – 3.30pm. For further information call: 01 28 6163 or email: managerbwr@eircom.net
Open Heart House in collaboration with MAC Cosmetics will host ‘a 24 hour Sleep Out’ in Dublin city centre from Wednesday 1st December to 2nd December, to mark World AIDS Day. The event will start at 12 noon. For further information call Kathryn on 01 830 5000 or e-mail: kathryn@openhearthouse.ie
The Disability and International Development Working Group of Dóchas will host a discussion on ‘How Ireland can better promote Disability Inclusion in its approach to Overseas Development. The event will take place on 3rd December, 10.30am- 1.00pm in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2. For further information call: 1 405 3801 or email: rossa@is-ireland.ie.
Comhlámh will host a seminar ‘Stepping Stone to a career in Development’ for volunteers and people interested in a career in the development sector. The seminar will take place on 4th December in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 from 3pm – 5pm. For further information call Stephanie on 01 4783490 or email: volops@comhlamh.org
Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) will hold its Annual Conference on 4th December in the Ireland Institute, 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 at 11.30 am. For further information contact Roger Cole, email: info@pana.ie
Department of Foreign Affairs will hold its Annual Forum of Human Rights on ‘Ireland’s examination under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council’ in The Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, 10th December. For further information contact Mary Gibbons, Human Rights Unit. Email: ngoforum@dfa.ie
CBM Ireland and the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUIG will host a seminar on
‘The Key Role of Local Government in promoting disability inclusion – Ireland & the World’. The event will take place in G Hotel, Galway on Monday 6thDecember from 11am-5pm. For further information call Eileen Glynn on (0) 91 494008 or Email: eileen.glynn@nuigalway.ie
European Development Days (EDD) is hosting a debate forum on international Development Cooperation on Monday 6 – 7 December. For further information see website: http://eudevdays.eu
Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) offers a 10-week class in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages. LASC also offers a course in Latin America Development Issues (FECTAC).The course gives an insight into the causes and consequences of the lack of development in Latin America. For further information call Shane on 01 6760435 or email: education@lasc.ie . See website: www.lasc.ie
KADE will host an International Human Rights Day Film Festival on 10th December. The event will take place in The Windmill Blennnerville, Tralee, County Kerry at 8.00pm. For further information visit www.kade.ie
Clare Intercultural Network is hosting a conference on Interculturalism, Equality & Religious Diversity in Irish Education- ‘Humanising Rights & Responsibilities’, on 10th December in Cois Na hAbhna, Gort Road, Ennis County Clare from 9.15am -1.30pm. For further information call Alphonse on 065 6869026 or email: clarintercultural@eircom.net
Information & Advocacy Clinics
The Integration Centre provides information and advocacy services on an outreach ‘clinic’ basis in Dublin and Galway. The following are the times and locations of clinics:
• Tuesdays in Dublin 10.00 -12.30, 1 Green Street, off North King St. D7
• Wednesdays in Dublin 10.00 - 12.30, Blanchardstown Citizen’s Information Centre, Westend House, Snugborough Road Extension, Blanchardstown, D15
• Wednesday in Dublin 1.30 - 15.45, Tallaght Citizen’s Information Centre, 512 Main Street, Tallaght, Co Dublin
• Thursdays in Dublin 10.00 - 12.30, Rathmines Information Centre, 11 Wynnefield road D6
• Thursdays in Dublin 14.00-16.30, Meath Street Citizen’s Information Centre, 2 Gray Street, Off Meath Street, D8
Clinics are provided in Galway as follows:
• Mondays in Galway 14.00 - 16.30, Citizen’s Information Centre Augustine Street
• Tuesdays in Galway 14.00 -16.30, Citizen’s Information Centre Augustine Street
• Thursdays in Galway 10.30 - 13.00, Citizen’s Information Centre Augustine Street