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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,
Director of Public Affairs, The Integration Centre,
18 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland;
Tel: +353 16453070; helena.clarke@integrationcentre.ie;
www.integrationcentre.ie
Contents
- Notices and Events
- A look back at 2011
- Diverse Ireland Awards 2011
- Immigration Policy 2012
Notices and Events
School Workshops
The ‘Interculturalism and Anti-Racism’ pilot programme will be launched by The Integration Centre in four secondary schools over the next two months, in counties Dublin and Meath. This programme will comprise three workshops exploring themes of immigration, protection, cultural diversity and racism in Ireland.
The Integration Centre will be joined by Show Racism the Red Card and two immigrant guest speakers in delivering the workshops; which aim to raise awareness of issues of immigration and tolerance and promote positive attitudinal change to the growing diversification of Irish society.
For more information contact aoife.breheny@integrationcentre.ie
Get your school or youth service active against racism
Show Racism the Red Card is calling for teachers, tutors and youth workers to register ONLINE their groups to participate in the Anti- Racism Creative Competition 2012. Deadline Friday 24th February. The competition is open to primary and secondary schools and also youth services and youthreach centres.
Once registered, you will be sent out the Show Racism the Red Card DVD for free and with links to the 28 page education pack, downloadable interactive activities and other resource material that will help you promote learning around racism in your group. Once the young people have watched the DVD, they will then be challenged to create their own written, visual or audiovisual piece arising from the themes of the DVD.
All participant groups will be invited to an awards prize giving at the AVIVA stadium in April.
Register your school to participate: www.theredcard.ie/competition.php
Show Racism the Red Card are also now recruiting volunteers for the Intercultural Summer Camp programme in 2012. For more information check out www.theredcard.ie/camp.php
Marino Institute of Education - Resource Fair Exhibition
The Integration Centre will showcase it’s work alongside a number of other organisations at this upcoming event. In conjunction with DICE, organisation with overall responsibility for Development and Intercultural Education in primary schools and as part of the Global Week Awareness Fair Marino College will host this event. The fair will target students to have an understanding in these areas and in turn link it into their teaching of inclusive education out in the schools. ( Tuesday 24th Jan 2012 from 12 – 2pm. )
For more information contact peter.szlovak@integrationcentre.ie
A look back at 2011
2011 was a year of substantial and positive change for The Integration Centre (TIC).
It began with the appointment of an interim CEO, this was quickly followed by the appointment of a permanent CEO and the publication and launch of the Annual Monitoring Report on Integration 2010, produced in collaboration with the ESRI.
In policy development, the summer months were spent on internal brainstorming. The Roadmap to Integration was a result of both the expertise of staff members and the statistics provided by the Annual Monitor.
The Centre had a number of key wins in relation to integration planning with local authorities and won a number of contracts which it is hoped will be increased upon in the coming year. Integration Planning contracts were secured with Waterford City and Kilkenny County and a new regional officer was appointed in the border area and PEACE III funding secured for work in two counties.
The Information and Advocacy service continues to provide information to clients on a daily basis, this face to face interaction with clients is central to the work the Centre carries out in the broader sense.
Our influence in governmental and political circles increased, TIC was asked to provide the representative for Ireland on the European Commission's, Integration Forum, it has been invited to make a presentation to the Oireachtas Justice Committee, has been commended for its work in the Dáil, made a number of presentations on Integration to political parties committees and conferences and held dozens of one on one meetings with politicians and advisors.
The Integration Centre hosted the highest number of interns and volunteers in its office since its inception and applicants come from around the world to intern. We developed links with two US colleges to accommodate suitable interns, their support has been invaluable.
Today FM, dozens of Irish celebrities and a former Minister of Justice agreed to support TIC Diverse Ireland Awards in December. The awards sought to recognise and acknowledge examples of good practice and extraordinary work done on integration in ten different categories. Over 300 nominations were received from the public for the awards.
The year ended with production finishing on The Business Case for the Integration of Immigrants in Ireland ready to be launched early next year. Dublin City Council commissioned the development of a monitoring report; this has been delivered and is scheduled to be released in January 2012. The second ESRI report is on schedule and new Local Integration Planning contracts were signed local authorities.
Given events in this country and earlier in the year in Norway and Britain there is a growing acceptance from political decision makers that new legislative and policy changes are imperative if Ireland is not to follow the experience of many of its European neighbours.
We firmly believe that The Integration Centre is uniquely poised to provide government and state with the technical knowledge on how to ensure Ireland can become the template on how to ensure sustainable integration.
Diverse Ireland Awards 2011
The staff and board of The Integration Centre would like to thank everyone that helped to make the Diverse Ireland Awards 2011 such a wonderful event.
With over three hundred nominations, 33 organisations and individuals were shortlisted and the 10 winners were decided by our expert panel of judges Dil Wickremasinghe, Newstalk Presenter; Nora Owen, former Minister for Justice; and the economist Jim Power.
The winners of the Diverse Ireland Awards 2011 are:
- Individual - Sergeant Trevor Laffan, Anglesea Station, Cork
- Large Company - Dublin Bus
- SME - Madina Asian Food Company
- Journalist - Jennifer Hough
- TD - Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD
- The Arts/Cultural Organisation - Love Music Hate Racism
- Local Authority - Kilkenny County Council
- Sporting Organisation - County Carlow Football Club
- Support Service - Fáilte Isteach
- School - Kilcolgan Educate Together, Galway
Immigration Policy 2012
Response to Statement by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter 4/1/12
2011 saw a number of positive actions put in place by the newly appointed Minister for Justice Alan Shatter. However, it is imperative that this momentum continues to gather in the right direction.
The Minister released a statement (4/1/12) wherein he stated "the immigration system can significantly aid economic activity and it is my priority that the system is utilised to the greatest extent possible in that respect."
Killian Forde, CEO of The Integration Centre, said ‘The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill has been in process for almost a decade. It is scheduled to return to Committee stage early 2012 for further debate – it remains to be seen whether this government is committed to an immigration and integration system in Ireland which is viable and promotes growth”.
The Minister outlined a number of processes he hoped to put in place in the coming year. One of which was the creation of an Immigrant Investment Programme and start-up Entrepreneur Programme for Immigrants (details to be announced early this year).
Mr. Forde commented ‘The Integration Centre welcomes this initiative as we have been calling for this type of action over the last year. Research we conducted in collaboration with the ESRI called the Annual Monitoring Report highlighted the fact that immigrant entrepreneurship in Ireland was surprisingly low which is probably due to the fact that the rules around business creation were more restrictive than enticing.
“In the Roadmap to Integration The Integration Centre produced last October 80 solutions were proffered to solve current gaps in integration policy. One of these was the creation of a State approved orientation course wherein information on cultural, political and civic life in Ireland, as well as public services, be provided to immigrants – this would enable them to be informed on their rights and therefore better citizens.”
“We have serious reservations however at the option proffered by the Minister in his latest statement. An English/Civics test for naturalization if created without the supply of a dedicated course to teach people what they need to know would only serve to be a further block to gaining a citizenship they would be otherwise entitled to.”
Mr. Forde finished by saying "one of the Minister’s chief achievements in 2011 was to bring in a citizenship ceremony and to deal with the backlog in citizenship applications by ensuring they be dealt with in a six month period. However it is our position that this test will significantly delay the process".
Information & Advocacy Clinics
Dublin
Tuesdays 10.00am - 12.30pm Wednesdays 10.00am - 12.30pm
Dublin City Centre CIS Blanchardstown Citizen's Information Centre
Macro Community Resource Centre Westend House
1 Green Street Westend Office Park
(off North King St) Dublin 15
Dublin 7
Thursdays 10.00am - 12.30pm Fridays 10.00am - 12.30pm
Citizens Information Centre Tallaght Citizens' Information Centre
7 Wynnefield Road 512 Main Street
Rathmines Tallaght
Dublin 6 Dublin 24
Galway
Tuesdays & Thursdays
10.30am - 12.30pm
Citizens Information Centre
Augustine House
St. Augustine Street
Galway
Funders
We continue to be grateful for the support and assistance of the Citizens Information Board (CIB),
Atlantic Philanthropies (Ireland) Ltd, the One Foundation and the Community Foundation for Ireland.
If you no longer wish to receive this e-bulletin, contact:
Helena Clarke, Communications & Media Executive
1st & 2nd Floors, 18 Dame Street, Dublin 2
Tel: 016453070, Fax: 016770061
Direct Line: 016453082
Email: helena.clarke@integrationcentre
Web: www.integrationcentre.ie
The Integration Centre is a company limited by guarantee not having a share capital, registered in Dublin, Ireland. Registered Company No: 473318, Charitable Status No: CHY 18944, Registered Office: 1st & 2nd Floors, 18 Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Directors: Pat Montague, Yaw Dankwa, Liz Joyce, Jerry Moriarty, Logan Raju, Paul Rowe, Prashant Shukla