Ireland 'can learn on immigration'

Ireland can learn from other countries when drawing up policies to aid the integration of new immigrants into society, Tánaiste Michael McDowell said today.

"We have had to adapt quickly, and I believe we are taking significant steps in that adaptation," Mr McDowell said at the opening a conference on integration policy today.

He called Ireland a "new kid on the block" in terms of having to deal with issues around immigration and integration but that this was a "unique position to draw upon the wisdom of other societies in handling this difficult issue".

The Minister said: "We have little historical or constitutional basis for seeing ourselves as having a monochrome, monofilament authentic Irish identity surrounded by exceptional minorities."

He also stated he had the opinion that "integration is a two way process - this has been Government policy since the late nineties, adding that "diversity should be respected and that society is all the richer for such respect.

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell

"The successful use of diversity is very much contingent on identifying and establishing a common set of values in society. I believe that not only is this possible - it is, in fact, a necessary condition for successful integration policies," Mr McDowell said.

"It is everyone's business because integration and the issues surrounding it permeates the daily lives of every Irish man, woman and child as they go about the daily business of their social, economic, religious and cultural lives."

But, Mr McDowell said, that this "does not excuse Government from needing to play critical and leading roles."

He said the functions of the new Integration Unit are being developed with preparatory work being done by the Reception and Integration Agency - a member of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.