A BALANCED approach to immigration is important in the changing economic climate, Minister of State for Integration Conor Lenihan said yesterday.
Launching an action strategy to support integrated workplaces, the Minister said it was also important to avoid sensationalising immigration.
"The thrust of the principles underpinning our integration strategy is that services to migrants should be made available by the mainstream service providers," he said.
"The initiatives being launched today are designed to assist employers and trade unions to respond to challenges of a culturally diverse workforce and to create integrated workplaces to the mutual benefit of all concerned - employers, employees and all of our residents of all nationalities."
He pointed out that the recent Live Register figures for the year to October indicated that there were 207,351 Irish nationals and 44,600 non-Irish nationals on the Live Register. These statistics showed that job losses and unemployment were "a reality of life facing both Irish nationals and the non-Irish national population resident here", he said.
The action strategy was developed by the Equality Authority, Ibec, Ictu, the Construction Industry Federation, Chambers Ireland, the Small Firms Association and the office of the Minister for Integration.
The chief executive of the Equality Authority, Niall Crowley, said that the creation of integrated workplaces was not a luxury for good times, it was also an urgent necessity for the economic bad times.
"Discrimination and disadvantage can end up being reinforced and copper-fastened into the future when they are not vigorously challenged in times of economic downturn," he said.
"Business investment in equality and diversity enhances labour productivity and workforce innovation and reduces employee turnover," he said.
"These outcomes are critical for business survival in difficult economic circumstances."