Posted: 27 September 2007
Immigrants key to Irish political parties, says Minister
The Minister with responsibility for integration, Conor Lenihan recently announced a new initiative on immigrant political participation at UCD. The initiative is part of an EU Grundtvig project aimed at increasing migrant involvement in civil society through more inclusive practices among political parties, trade unions and NGOs.
The project involves participatory research and adult education practices. With international partners in Germany and Norway, the Irish branch of the project is led by the Migration and Citizenship Research Initiative (MCRI) at UCD in co-operation with Dundrum College.
At the first project session with participants from political parties which took place at the Humanities Institute of Ireland, UCD on 14 September 2007, the Minister strongly acknowledged the importance of the involvement of migrant communities in the Irish political system. “These new communities are in fact new constituencies,” he said.
Pictured at the event: Dr Alice Feldman, UCD School of Sociology,
Conor Lenihan TD,
Dr Mary Gilmartin, UCD School of Geography and Urban Planning,
Dr Marc Caball, UCD Humanities Institute of Ireland
Noting the dynamic nature of migrant organisations and networks in Ireland, the Minister spoke of how members of the migrant community were “heavily committed to these organisations and groups.”
“Migrant stakeholders are not just valuable in terms of the ‘political advantage’ that they can offer political parties,” said Minister Lenihan. “Their involvement in the political process is key for revitalising party membership, party activities and a healthy Irish democracy.” However, the Minister also explained that in order for this to be successful, political parties would have to directly engage with immigrant communities at local and grassroots level.
Pictured at the event (l-r): Beatrix Bauer, Dundrum College;
Erika Roche, Dundrum College;
Norbert Cyrus; University of Oldenburg, Germany; Conor Lenihan, TD; Marc Caball, Director, Humanities Institute; Caitriona Stewart-Short, MCRI; Elisabeth Egeli, Univerity of Stavanger, Norway; Mary Gilmartin, MCRI and School of Geography, Planning & Environmental Policy
The Irish component of the project brought together participants from four of the country’s largest political parties – Fianna Fáil, Labour, Green Party and Sinn Féin – in a day-long workshop at University College Dublin on 14 September 2007. The workshop discussed best practices for developing more inclusive policies and practices to increase migrant involvement in political parties and active citizenship initiatives.
“This cross-party initiative will provide practical assistance for political parties across Europe, so Ireland will be helping set a European-wide agenda,” said Dr Mary Gilmartin, project leader and co-Director of the MCRI.
The Migration and Citizenship Research Initiative was established at the UCD Humanities Institute of Ireland by Alice Feldman and Mary Gilmartin in 2003. It aims to develop cross-sector collaboration among academics, civic organisations and government bodies engaged in Irish immigration and integration research, policy and practice.
