The Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was unwise to set a Celtic and Christian context for his speech on immigration and its impact on Irish society after a special pre-election meeting of his parliamentary party. It obscured much of what he had to say in terms of support services for immigrants which was positive, challenging, accurate and helpful.
He identified specific measures Fine Gael would take if elected to government which are worthy of serious consideration. Yet, he is being perceived, through his vision of us as a "Celtic and Christian people" as tapping into a latent xenophobia. He was wrong to present a major policy speech in this context.
Yet, he is being wronged. Mr Kenny, the alternative candidate for taoiseach in the up-coming general election, had a positive attitude overall to the numbers of immigrants coming to Ireland. They had rights and responsibilities, he said, as most of us have here as citizens. He was critical of the Government's fragmented approach to immigrants and promised, if in government, that he would appoint a Minister of State with specific responsibility for their interests across all departments. He proposed a Green card system - the Government has done so in recent days - and was most vocal on the rights of immigrants to be taught English within the education system.
The full text of his speech - published in yesterday's editions - is a far cry from the intolerant reaction to it. Mr Kenny raised many positive policy issues which were supportive, and inclusive of, the new Irish. More's the pity that, in a sound-bite world, he contextualised it as a Celtic and Christian agenda.
Before the last general election, political parties signed up to an anti-racist programme that rejected materials that expressed prejudice or hatred on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic origins or religious beliefs. Nothing Mr Kenny said this week offended those principles. But his assumption that the inhabitants of this State were "a Celtic and Christian people" , offers the prospect of a lesser status to those who fail to qualify by way of race or religion. A crime theme - "keeping Ireland safe" - is wide open to misinterpretation.
Despite the furore that Mr Kenny's prepared speech has caused, the bulk of it was positive and constructive in tone. Proposals, such as the provision of adequate English language teaching for children and adults and the appointment of a Minister of State with overall responsibility for the integration and protection of immigrants in our society, are good for Irish society. Irish identity has grown and developed with time and circumstance. The immigrant population is now 10 per cent of the population as a whole. For this reason, Mr Kenny is right to call for a debate on this important issue during the election campaign. Any shying away from it by the political parties suggests that it is so sensitive that it cannot be discussed. It would be a shame that political correctness would prevent us from discussing the greatest demographic change in our history.