ICI News Bulletin - Issue 60
1. Concern over consequences of residence permit renewal debacle
2. Submission to UN on migrants’ rights in Ireland
3. Hundreds take part in outreach sessions on citizenship
4. NGOs join forces in campaign to tackle demand for paid sex
5. ICI briefs European Committee on the Prevention of Torture
6. ICI joins key institutions for Holocaust Memorial Day
7. Mentoring Programme goes national
8. ICI promotes integration for Global Forum on Migration and Development
9. Young migrants to take part in focus group interviews on employment issues
10. Stockholm Programme conference explored immigration issues
11. Meeting to share information on “wins”
12. Barriers to parental involvement pinpointed at Pathways meeting
13. Clarification on analysis of immigration law
Concern over consequences of residence permit renewal debacle
The ICI will closely monitor any fall-out from the confusion around the process for renewing residence permits for the parents of Irish citizen children. About 17,000 people have this type of residence permit (IBC), which are due for renewal this year.
In December, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) advertised the process for renewing IBC residence permits, stating that people could do so by presenting at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) or their local immigration office, with the relevant documents, fee etc. But people who followed the directions set out in the advertisements have been told by the GNIB that it is unable to renew their permits without further direction from INIS. INIS has indicated a second announcement about the renewal process will be made on www.inis.gov.ie and in national newspapers soon. In the meantime, many affected migrants have not been able to renew their residence permits.
This apparent breakdown in coordination between two parts of the Department of Justice has very serious ramifications, not least the fact that when a person’s current permit expires and is not renewed, they become undocumented. This could have implications for a person’s employment security and possibly on citizenship applications, as well creating enormous stress and confusion. The ICI has been in contact with both INIS and the GNIB in an attempt to have the situation addressed.
Submission to UN on migrants’ rights in Ireland
The ICI has made a submission to the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, particularly access to economic and social rights and the right to health for undocumented migrants, for his annual report.
Senior Solicitor Hilkka Becker argues in the submission that limited access to English language tuition, lack of legislation governing recognition of qualifications people have gained in non-EU countries and immigration status-related restrictions on access to education for some migrants all have negative impacts on their right to an adequate standard of living.
Hilkka also outlines the excessive fees charged for employment permits, visas, registration cards and certificates of naturalisation, restrictions on access to housing, provisions in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008 restricting undocumented migrants’ access to health services and restrictions on access to social welfare and how these impact on migrants’ rights to an adequate standard of living and right to health. The submission can be downloaded from our website - http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/images/404_0110_unspecialrapporteursub.pdf
Hundreds take part in outreach sessions on citizenship
More than 340 people have taken part in outreach sessions on the issue of citizenship and permanency conducted by the ICI in conjunction with community-based groups around the country. So far, sessions have been held in Balbriggan, Clondalkin, Dundalk, Ennis, Longford, Sligo and Tallaght, with more sessions expected to be held in Cork, Letterkenny and Bray.
The aim of the sessions is to provide information about the naturalisation process and to gather feedback from people who have applied for citizenship on their experience of the process and any difficulties they may have encountered. Many people spoke about frustration with the length of time taken to process applications.
Attendees were asked to provide information about their motivation for applying to become an Irish citizen and common reasons given were a desire to be seen to belong in Ireland, to enjoy a sense of permanency and to be able to vote in national elections. Some attendees whose applications had been rejected for minor traffic offences that carried no conviction queried whether there was a time period after which the matter would no longer count against them. Others spoke about being given no reason for their application being refused.
NGOs join forces in campaign to tackle demand for paid sex
The ICI convened a second meeting of members of the NGO Alliance to further develop the campaign to tackle demand within the sex industry. Presentations were given on the possible options for legislative change and updates on recent developments.
The Alliance looked at campaigns in other countries where legislation to penalise the purchase of sex has been introduced and strategies that could be successful in the Irish context. The Alliance includes Barnardos, FLAC, Women’s Aid, the National Women’s Council, the Irish Observatory on Violence against Women, AkiDwA, Ruhama, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Act to Prevent Trafficking (APT) and the ICI.
ICI briefs European Committee on the Prevention of Torture
Senior Solicitor Hilkka Becker met with delegates from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) during their recent visit to Dublin. Hilkka briefed delegates, who were in Ireland on a “periodic” visit, on the issues faced by migrants in detention in Ireland.
The CPT's last report on Ireland was in 2006 and a copy of the full report is available at: http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/irl/2007-40-inf-eng.pdf. In the report, the CPT highlighted issues related to overcrowding and reiterated its opinion that a prison is, by definition, not a suitable place in which to detain someone who is neither suspected nor convicted of a criminal offence. In those cases where it is deemed necessary to deprive a person of his or her liberty for an extended period under immigration legislation, the person should be accommodated in centres specifically designed for that purpose, offering material conditions and a regime appropriate to their legal situation and staffed by suitably qualified personnel.
At the meeting, the ICI highlighted existing legislative provisions for immigration-related detention in a wide range of circumstances, as well as the proposed provisions in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008. The ICI also highlighted the ongoing difficulties in monitoring the welfare and conditions of migrants in detention due to the lack of official data recorded by the Irish Prison Service or other agencies.
In addition, the ICI raised concerns about victims of trafficking being kept in detention and charged with immigration related offences, concerns which were also expressly highlighted by the US Trafficking In Persons Report (2009). For more information, please contact Hilkka – hilkka@immigrantcouncil.ie
ICI joins key institutions for Holocaust Memorial Day
Chief Executive Denise Charlton participated in Dublin’s National Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration at the Mansion House on Sunday. Hosted by the Holocaust Education Trust Ireland in association with the Office of the Minister for Integration, the programme was designed to cherish the memory of all of the victims of the Nazi Holocaust and to serve as a constant reminder of the dangers of racism, by providing lessons from the past that are relevant today.
An Taoiseach Brian Cowen delivered a keynote address, while speeches were given by Holocaust survivors and representatives across the spectrum of Irish society. Attendees included religious leaders, diplomats, academics, poets and musicians. The inclusion of all victim groups is fundamental to the commemoration and the importance of education about anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance was highlighted.
Denise gave a reading at the commemoration. An integral part of the event was the candle-lighting ceremony, at which six candles are always lit for the six million Jews who perished, as well as candles for all of the other victims
Mentoring Programme goes national
Following the successful completion of the pilot phase of the Mentoring Programme in Dublin, the ICI will deliver a “train the trainers” session to representatives from NGOs in West Dublin, Tallaght, Limerick, Galway and Mallow that will be involved in conducting mentoring programmes in their areas. The training session will be held on February 12 and 13.
The project is funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals through the Office of the Minister for Integration and administered by Pobal. For more information, please contact Research and Integration Officer Fidèle Mutwarasibo - fidele@immigrantcouncil.ie
ICI promotes integration for Global Forum on Migration and Development
Research and Integration Officer Fidèle Mutwarasibo is working with development NGOs and stakeholders to promote a united approach ahead of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Mexico later this year.
The ICI was represented by its chief executive Denise Charlton at last year’s Forum in Athens. Although the conclusions of the Forum are not binding, it provides a unique opportunity for civil society to make presentations to governments on issues relating to immigration and development. For more information, contact Fidèle - fidele@immigrantcouncil.ie.
Young migrants to take part in focus group interviews on employment issues
The ICI will host a focus group interview tomorrow (February 5) as part of the Pathways to Work project. Similar focus groups will be held in Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland and Spain.
Funded by the EC Education and Culture Department under the Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation programme, the transnational project’s interview findings will contribute to a needs analysis to inform the development of a training pack. The overall aim of the project is to maximise young migrants’ career opportunities in their new home countries. For more information, please contact Research and Integration Officer Fidèle Mutwarasibo - fidele@immigrantcouncil.ie.
Stockholm Programme conference explored immigration issues
Senior Solicitor Hilkka Becker attended a major conference on the “Stockholm Programme: Changes and Novelties on Immigration and Criminal Justice Cooperation and Importance for the United Kingdom”, which was organised by the Centre of European Law at King’s College London with the support of the Representation of the European Commission in the UK.
In December, the European Council adopted the new multiannual programme on Justice and Home Affairs, better known as the Stockholm Programme, which replaces the previous Hague Programme adopted in 2004. The objective of the conference was to inform academics, practitioners, policy makers and civil society about the Stockholm Programme, exploring its strengths and weaknesses, particularly in relation to immigration and criminal justice co-operation.
The Stockholm Programme can be found at - http://www.se2009.eu/polopoly_fs/1.26419!menu/standard/file/Klar_Stockholmsprogram.pdf
For more information, please contact Hilkka - hilkka@immigrantcouncil.ie
Meeting to share information on “wins”
Board Chairperson John Cunningham and Chief Executive Denise Charlton attended Atlantic Philanthropies’s meeting for grantees working on immigration and integration, to discuss capacity and sustainability. It was proposed and agreed that ICI would convene a meeting of interested organisations to share information on “wins” achieved in the sector and progression of the work, key priorities for the future, major challenges and further opportunities for collaboration.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday March 24 at DIT. For further information, please contact admin@immigrantcouncil.ie
Barriers to parental involvement pinpointed at Pathways meeting
The ICI hosted an advisory committee meeting of the Pathways to Parental Leadership project on January 25. The project aims to maximise migrant parents’ involvement in their children’s school lives. The meeting focused on school ethos and management at primary school level, and the ensuing scope for parental involvement.
Guest speakers included Deirdre Sullivan (National Parents Council - Primary), Paul Rowe (Educate Together), Rev. Dr Norman Gamble (Church of Ireland), Abdul Haseeb (Parents' Association, Muslim National School Clonskeagh) and Fr Jim Cassin (Roman Catholic church).
Barriers to parental involvement mentioned were lack of trust, lack of knowledge of relevant services, language and enrolment issues arising from lack of planning. Another issue discussed was the recent and projected dramatic increase in demand for primary education, and the need to properly address the integration of second-generation Irish citizens in schools, partly through the informal educational environment, such as the school yard and the Internet. For more information, please contact Research Intern Lucy Jessel - research_intern@immigrantcouncil.ie.
Clarification on analysis of immigration law
In our last News Bulletin we said that the ICI had just completed a questionnaire on Ireland’s immigration laws and policies as part of a project involving all 27 EU member states and two non member states. We referred to the project as the MIPEX project. In fact, the questionnaire was part of the IMMEX project. Our apologies for any confusion.