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
- Diverse Ireland Awards
- Integration Report Card
- Ireland from an Immigrant Perspective
- Notices & Events
Diverse Ireland Awards
Nominations are now open for the Diverse Ireland Awards 2011. You may make a nomination for as many categories as you wish through The Integration Centre website www.integrationcentre.ie
The Integration Centre’s Diverse Ireland Awards have been created to raise awareness of the positive advancements around immigrant integration in Ireland.
Too often immigrant issues take a back seat in policy-making, media-coverage and general day to day life.
These awards have been established to help people learn more about the important work being done and to honour the efforts of those who are creating stronger, more unified and successful communities.
An Advisory Board of experts has been appointed to assist The Integration Centre staff in selecting Prize winners. The Board is comprised of experts in media, politics and business:
• Dil Wickramingshe, Broadcaster
• Nora Owen, Former Minister for Justice
• Jim Power, Economist
• Killian Forde, CEO The Integration Centre
The Awards ceremony will take place 16th December, venue to be confirmed.
Integration Report Card
The Integration Centre will launch its first Integration Report Card this autumn.
The Report Card assesses current integration policy in Ireland; the problems with it and solutions that could be put in place to solve these.
This Report Card is a product of the hands-on experience garnered through the work of The Integration Centre, and information from The Annual Integration Monitoring Report 2010 produced in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) last May.
For further information on the event or the Report Card contact Helena Clarke, helena.clarke@integrationcentre.ie
Ireland from an Immigrant Perspective
This section of our e-bulletin is dedicated to understanding immigrant perspectives of Ireland. This month we interviewed Nick Fleurot, a native of Paris who recently traded the City of Light for a life by the Liffey to be with his Irish girlfriend.
Nick first came to Ireland in 2003. He met his girlfriend here and they spent the last few years living in Paris until she received an offer to return to her old job in Dublin.
He said “I had lived here before for a year in 03/04 so I knew what to expect. Socially it is not too difficult to get along in Ireland because my girlfriend is Irish and knows plenty of people. Also Irish people are very friendly and easy to talk to”.
Although Nick has had no problems integrating, from a professional point of view it has been difficult.
“Because of the recession it has been very hard to find a job, I haven’t even been able to get many interviews. When I first arrived I went for an interview and they told me they thought the language barrier would be an issue, but I think they simply wanted an Irish person for the job”.
It is a common story, but Nick is not angry, he just wants to be able to support himself.
“I want to find a job, any job that will allow me to pay rent and live a normal life”.
Nick says the biggest change for him, coming to Ireland from France, is the Irish public service system. He claims this is the main aspect of Irish life that has left him feeling isolated.
“In France there are quite good public services, particularly in transport and health care. In Ireland I feel like I’m not supported. It’s like I’m on my own. For example, right now if I want to go to the doctor, I have zero income but it costs upwards of fifty euro. There is no support or anyone to talk to”.
Nick believes that Ireland could do more to reach out to its European cousins coming to the country, as they are not afforded the same services that other immigrants and asylum seekers are.
“NGOs work with immigrants and refugees but there are no services for people from the EU. They should work more with people from European countries.”
Despite his concerns, Nick plans to stay here for the foreseeable future, and has not yet begun to miss his native France. He does however; hope to return home for Christmas.
Notices & Events:
- The Business Case for Integration
- IRP Bill Coalition
- Integration Planning
- Integration Monitoring
- Integration Conference Cork
The Business Case for Integration
The Integration Centre will launch The Business Case for the Integration of Immigrants in Ireland in the Oak Room of the Mansion House, Dublin 2, from 6-8pm, Oct 18th. Eminent Economist Jim Power has produced the research on behalf of The Integration Centre.
IRP Bill Coalition
The Integration Centre continues to lobby around issues in the IRP Bill 2010 as part of an NGO Coalition. Members of the Coalition are Akidwa, Crosscare, The Integration Centre, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Nasc, the IRC, Doras Luimni, and MRCI. The Coalition has produced a briefing paper on the Bill for general information and to be used in lobbying policymakers. To read the briefing paper click here…
Integration Planning
The Waterford Integration Plan has finished its first phase. 84 people took part in the nine consultation meetings. Staff of The Integration Centre have been collating the information gained through the process, and the input from these meetings will directly inform the final Integration Plan that is devised. Thanks to everyone who got involved, it is hoped that you will continue to be a part of this process right through to implementation stages.
Integration Monitoring
The Integration Centre has completed its integration monitoring report on Dublin city, created in collaboration with Dublin City Council. The report will be launched in the near future.
Integration Conference Cork
CEO of The Integration Centre, Killian Forde will speak at the Conference on Integration in Cork City, on the 26th Sep, 9.30am-1.30pm. The aim of this conference is to bring together key stakeholders and policy makers in the city, to identify strategic opportunities and priorities which will inform and direct the Cork City Integration Strategy 2012 – 2015. Attendance is by invitation only.
For further details, or to RSVP for any of the above events contact Helena at helena.clarke@integrationcentre.ie or 01-6453092
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