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
- Ireland: an Immigrant’s View from Clement Esebamen
- Don’t Forget to Register
- Belgian University Visits The Integration Centre
- Information and Advocacy Clinics
Ireland: an Immigrant’s View from Clement Esebamen
This section of our e-bulletin is dedicated to understanding immigrant perspectives of Ireland. This month we were lucky enough to interview Clement Esebamen, originally from Nigeria and former senior policy advisor in the Office of the Minister for Integration.
Education has played a key role in Esabamen’s life. Having a bachelors, and masters degree he is currently pursuing a doctorate in Governance. He has lived in Ireland for over a decade and being a family-man and Christian are important to him.
Metro Eireann’s cover story last November relayed the likelihood of Esebamen running in the next general election. When questioned on this he said “I have strong views about the direction the country is headed. In debates about the economy, creative leadership and solutions are never explored. Politicians are generally guided by media convolutions and pollster’s permutations, without really setting out a clear agenda to remedy a pretty deplorable situation… I believe that if alternative and even revolutionary ideas about re-growing the Irish economy, creating and maintaining real unsubsidized jobs, and securing our collective future, are left to the mercies of a political elite, that have demonstrated total incapacity to reform and rethink the State, I will not sleep well at night.
Esebamen believes that the recession is in a way an equalizer, saying “we have all been affected negatively. Migrants came to this country chiefly because it was a growing prosperous economy, providing jobs and a higher quality of life, and this has all changed. Immigrants and the Irish therefore have the same concerns.”
Esebamen went on to say that he is here for the long haul and believes that his Nigerian heritage makes him a better Irish citizen. An avid sports fan, and a self confessed perennial believer in the year of the Dubs in Gaelic he said “I have been to games at the Croker and what a spectacle!”
Don’t Forget to Register
The next general election will soon be upon us. If you want your voice to be heard, you must become part of the process.
Elections are the primary accountability mechanisms in democratic societies. If you want to have a greater say in the running of Ireland then you must register to vote for the candidate that suits you.
The current Register of Electors can be checked online at www.checktheregister.ie.
People not included in the current register and who wish to register for a vote in a prospective general election (if it takes place before February 15), will therefore need to apply to be included on a special supplement to the register, which is produced before any election or referendum.
To be included on the supplement, voters must be:
• at least 18 years on or before polling day
• an Irish/British citizen ordinarily resident at the address at which he/she wishes to be registered; and
• not already registered as an elector at any other address.
To be included on the supplement, you can download form RFA2 (pdf). If you are already on the register, and need to change your address, then you should look for form RFA3 (pdf).
Belgian University Visits The Integration Centre
Students from the Karel de Grote Hogeschool in Antwerp, Belgium visited The Integration Centre this week to find out more about immigration and integration practices in Ireland.
The trip was an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and experience of integration practices in both Belgium and Ireland. The students informed us that Belgium immigrants are 'welcomed' by enforced lessons in the Dutch language and an 'orientation on Belgian society'. Whilst this is an obligation, the students believe that these processes help immigrants integrate in Belgian society. The students also informed us of the intensive language courses that take place in the larger cities for young children to help them learn the language as quickly as possible.
Integration practices in Ireland are only beginning to be planned for in a serious and meaningful way. The Integration Centre is involved in a number of integration plans around the country in collaboration with county councils and other community organisations. However, there is still a lack when it comes to government commitment to the provision of resources and services.
Ireland will see a new government formed in the very near future – it can only be hoped that integration will become more established on that government’s agenda.
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
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