Press Release 1/2/12
The Integration Centre Presents Survey Findings to TDs
The Integration Centre will present the findings of a survey of TDs attitudes to immigrants and integration in Leinster House today (1/2/12).
A release of some of the survey's findings in December grabbed headlines. It was revealed that despite the fact TD’s were aware of racist attitudes, 60% having encountered racism while canvassing, more than a third also felt that speaking up on behalf of migrants would damage their electoral support.
Killian Forde, CEO of The Integration Centre said “these figures point to societal problems and flaws in the system, we need to start addressing these issues from an informed evidence based position. We are making this presentation to TDs today to reflect back their own attitudes, the contradictions the survey highlights, and present some low cost solutions that will assist with integration".
Interestingly one third of TD’s surveyed did not feel that integration should be the remit of the Department of Justice.
Mr Forde continued “Integration is much more than just immigration policy, we feel that the Office of the Promotion of Migrant Integration should come under the remit of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, with a junior Minister given responsibility to draw up a national integration strategy that compliments the work being done by the local authorities around the state”.
“At the moment integration strategies are actively in place at the local level through the development of integration plans and other work. However, there is neither a Minister with the remit of Integration, as there was with the last government, or a national integration plan. This laissez faire attitude will have ramifications.’
“In this current climate the jaded rhetoric of immigrants stealing jobs just doesn’t cut it. 72% of TD’s feel that immigrants have an important role to play in the recovery of our economy, and the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter made a statement last week in the same vein when he announced the new immigrant entrepreneur and immigrant investor schemes.”
"The biggest challenge to Irish society at the moment is around integration, get it right and we can be a model to the rest of the world, get it wrong and we will struggle for generations to come with a disenfranchised, excluded minority and all the associated problems this leads to."
ENDS
Notes
Contact: Helena Clarke, Director of Public Affairs, The Integration Centre, on 01 645 3070
To read the survey
click here...
About the Millard Brown Lansdowne survey
The results depict the findings of a survey of members of the Dáil, conducted between 22nd June and the 12th of July. The purpose of this survey was to ascertain TDs’ opinions’, attitudes and interactions with immigration and Immigrants. Attempts were made to contact all 165 TDs, with 74 eventually participating in the survey, giving a success rate of 45%. All TDs were contacted by telephone, and were only broadly made aware of the issues to be discussed prior to participating in the survey. Reasons given for not participating included refusals on principal (based on not going surveys in general as opposed to the specific subject matter of this survey), refusals based on being too busy to participate, and in some cases, inability to directly contact the individual in question.
TDs were asked 28 questions. Examples include;
• Do you think that in future Irish elections immigration will become a more contentious issue?
• Do you think immigrants have an important role to play in the recovery of our economy?
• Did you encounter racist sentiments when you were canvassing in the recent general elections?
• Ireland has committed to taking in 200 recognized refugees for resettlement in Ireland every year. At this present time, do you think this number is too many, not enough, or just about the right amount?
• Have you ever spoken on the record in the Dáil regarding immigrant’s or refugee’s rights?
The Integration Centre is committed to the integration and inclusion of people from immigrant backgrounds in Ireland. The Centre specialises in planning, monitoring and advocacy at city, local, national and international levels, and it also 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.