Rising unemployment will test the tolerance of Irish people towards immigrants, Ireland's first black mayor has said.
Cllr Rotimi Adebari, the Mayor of Portlaoise, said the threat of social unrest caused by the slowdown in the economy is an issue that needs to be addressed by the Government and the social partners in partnership talks.
In the last year Portlaoise has been one of the towns worst-hit by the economic slowdown which has seen unemployment nationally rise from 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, with a prediction that it will reach 6 per cent by the end of this year.
According to figures released last month, the number on the Live Register in Portlaoise increased by 70 per cent from 935 in April 2007 to 1,385 in April this year.
The increase was particularly pronounced among men with the live register up by 84 per cent in the same period.
Cllr Rotimi, whose term as mayor ends next month, said unemployment in the town is a direct result of a slump in construction which had a knock-on effect on security, estate agencies and other activities which are dependent on the industry.
“When economies slow down, migrants are always a target. I hate the word tolerance, because I want to be accepted not tolerated. However, this is a time that will test the tolerance of the Irish people.”
Mr Rotimi was speaking at the annual conference of the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployment (INOU) which held its annual conference in Portlaoise today.
“When we are at a stage when there is unemployment, we have to face it together. That is why the Government has to invite the social partners into a room, lock the door and throw the key out of the room and get to the bottom of this,” he said.
