Sir, – The lack of mature political leadership on migration, as highlighted by Mary Carolan ("Pegida's arrival a wake-up call for migration policy", Opinion & Analysis, February 12th), has brought much-needed focus on the danger of Ireland sleepwalking into a future of division, ghettoes and even violence. While the policies of the far right have found no electoral support in this country, and we can be grateful that they have not featured in the general election campaign, our policymakers cannot continue pretending that immigration is not happening.
Migration may not be a doorstep issue, but the failure of successive governments to honour commitments to legislate has left glaring policy gaps that have seen Ireland criticised by organisations such as the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, as well as the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, to name but a few.
The fact that 17 per cent of people who call Ireland home were born elsewhere, coupled with the continuing refugee crisis, show that migration is an urgent issue that requires policy and regulations that are fit for purpose.
At the Immigrant Council of Ireland, we are seeking political commitments for wholescale immigration reforms which would see the introduction of a fair and transparent system with an independent appeals mechanism, such as the protection of the Office of the Ombudsman.
A minister for integration needs to be appointed to ensure we are not a divided society and that everyone who lives here has a stake in Ireland’s future.
We need action too to protect vulnerable groups – the stalled Sexual Offences Bill and its measures to curb demand for sex trafficking must be taken up as a priority by any incoming government, while our laws on hatred and racism urgently need updating.
Many of our European neighbours have learned painful lessons by failing to accept and legislate for immigration and the complex issues which follow. We must learn from their mistakes and ensure our communities are places where everyone, no matter what their background, can feel at home. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN KILLORAN,
Chief Executive,
Immigrant Council
of Ireland
Andrew Street, Dublin 2.