Integration 
Political Integration
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
The ICI undertook the "Count Us In" campaign to remind General Election 2011 candidates that naturalised Irish citizens and second generation migrants have a right to vote. Migrants with the right - and intention - to vote told us candidates and canvassers had not engaged with them during the campaign, in the mistaken belief that they did not have a right to vote. ICI staff and supporters took part in a photocall outside Leinster House to make their point.
The ICI has taken an active role in promoting increased political participation by migrants in Ireland, from working with other organisations aiming to increase the number of migrants registered to vote, through to addressing the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Constitution on ways to extend the franchise to migrants who are established residents in the State.
Liberal democratic societies depend on citizens who participate in political and civic activities. Research we commissioned showed significant numbers of migrants were unaware of their voting rights in Ireland. The ICI, in conjunction with other organisations, has worked to increase migrants' participation in the democratic process, both as voters and as election candidates.
Citizenship is a legal and social status that provides rights and entitlements to individuals. These rights and entitlements can include access to education and social services and the right to vote in national elections and referenda.
The ICI is campaigning for reform of Ireland's processes for granting citizenship and long-term residency. Our aim is to address the difficulties in our existing system, such as the high rate of refusal of applications, the long delays in processing applications and the fact that citizenship is conferred solely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform. Through our campaign, we hope to frame the debate around "belonging" in Ireland, which is linked to Irish identity and issues relating to the type of society we have, or hope to have, in this country. See our page on Citizenship, Residence and Belonging
Count Us In
Political participation and representation is an important element of migrants' inclusion in society. The ICI undertook the Count Us In campaign to remind political parties and candidates that thousands of those voting in the general election will be people who have migrated to Ireland and have been granted citizenship. Between 1995 and April 2009, more than 35,000 people were granted citizenship by naturalisation, according to figures from Eurostat and answers to Parliamentary questions. British citizens, the largest migrant group in Ireland, also have the right to vote in general elections.
The campaign's other aims were to raise awareness among migrants who are Irish citizens of their right to vote in the General Election, to remind political parties and candidates of the need to engage with migrants and to remind politicians and canvassers that the electorate is now more diverse.
New Government should include migrant representative in Seanad: ICI
Political Manifestos
The ICI submits recommendations to political parties, based on the experiences of our service users, to help shape policies, election manifestos and programmes for government. In addition, we lobby political parties to implement or change policies, as appropriate, and advise on areas in need of reform, for example the current approach to granting citizenship and long-term residence, family reunification, anti-racism measures and the protection of victims of trafficking.
In 2010, we developed a manifesto setting out priority areas of necessary reform to assist political parties in the development of their election manifestos.
The 2007 programme for government included commitments in a number of areas on which the ICI had been actively lobbying, including greater co-ordination in the area of integration, the establishment of an Office and Minister for Integration, an independent appeals tribunal for immigration-related decisions, greater clarity in the areas on family reunification and residency rights and greater protection for victims of trafficking.
Submission: Recommendations on Immigration and Integration to inform political parties' manifestos for the 2007 General Election - March 2007
Voter Mobilisation
The ICI was an active participant in Dublin City Council' Migrant Voters Project and the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's Migrant Voter Mobilisation Campaign in the lead-up to the June 2009 local elections.
Both campaigns were established to develop and implement voter education and voter registration programmes for migrants living in those local authority areas. The aim was to raise awareness, encourage voter registration and provide training on the voting and elections processes for migrants ahead of the local elections. The campaigns resulted in increased voter registration by migrants, an increase in the number of migrant voters and generally increased engagement with local politicians and local political processes.
Representation of migrants in public institutions
The representation of migrants in public institutions in Ireland is seen as an important element of migrants' political inclusion. It is in this context that the ICI developed and submitted two policing submissions. The ICI also regularly contributes to debates and consultations on issues pertaining to the representation of migrants in wider societal institutions.
Submission: To An Garda Siochána's Strategic Planning Process, 2006