AS UNEMPLOYMENT rises, social pressures within society are likely to intensify. Even in the good times, the influx of foreign workers and their families – amounting to 10 per cent of the population – generated conflicting responses.
While their presence was generally regarded as being good for both the country and the economy, a minority complained that they took “Irish jobs” and drove down wages. In changed economic circumstances, the task of integrating these new citizens and addressing nascent prejudices takes on a fresh importance. They themselves have a central role to play.
Our political system is rigid and exclusive. Confirmation of that fact can be found in the level of female representation in the Oireachtas and in local government. As for people born outside of the State, their profile in Irish politics tends to be vanishingly small. That is why the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, John O’Donoghue, who has promoted the profile of those immigrants standing in the local elections, should be complimented. And while Mr O’Donoghue held out the late President Kennedy as a shining example of political success to immigrant candidates, the role played by Eamon de Valera, who founded and led Fianna Fáil, is much closer to home.
Any society in which 10 per cent of the population does not actively participate in politics is in danger of allowing genuine grievances to fester and of slipping into discriminatory practices. It may not be deliberate. But it should be countered. That is why encouraging foreign-born candidates to participate in elections is important. A more immediate and critical step, however, lies in encouraging immigrants to register and to vote. Once their voting influence is recognised by established politicians, their concerns will be paid proper attention.
Before the last election, a great fuss was made about faulty and inaccurate voting registers and the likelihood of widespread abuse. An electoral commission that would compile and maintain an accurate list of people entitled to vote was promised. We are still waiting. When that body is eventually established, it should be specifically required to encourage the registration of those immigrants entitled to vote and to explain their entitlements in different elections. In the meantime, we should welcome the emergence of political activists from at least nine different countries who will contest the local elections in June and enrich our democratic system through their active citizenship.