A chara, - In the field of immigration and integration, it is certainly worth while to learn about best practices elsewhere ("Others' integration models provide options for Ireland", The Irish Times, June 20th). There is much to be learned from Britain and France, even though both have greater populations as well as a much longer history of immigration.
I would also hope that Ireland will study developments in a country with a similar population size and a proportion of immigrants, and which has changed from being a destination for rather than a source of migration in relatively recent times. Why not look to Norway?
The Norwegian model is based on integration and inclusion. It seeks, in customary Nordic fashion, to steer a middle course between assimilation and segregation. The topic of immigration is the subject of continual and lively debate, but Norway has coped relatively well with the social transformation that has come with strong economic growth. There is a strong emphasis on adequately funded programmes tailored to the needs of migrants and on dealing with issues from language skills, access to the labour market, housing standards and protection from discrimination.
Structured dialogue with immigrants themselves has been an important part of the process. As early as the mid 1980s Norway set up a Contact Committee (known by its Norwegian acronym, KIM) as a forum for exchanges between immigrants, government departments and political parties. Immigrant communities propose their representatives on the basis of where they live in Norway, rather than on the basis of national origin or religious affiliation. A broad spectrum of opinion and experience thus has a voice in the policy making process. Over the years the Contact Committee has promoted pragmatic solutions to challenges in areas such as education, employment, healthcare and policing.
The potential for future problems is widely appreciated. Slowly but surely, appreciation of the benefits of diversity is also spreading. Migration is both a challenge and an opportunity, and the development of strategies for integration can only benefit from careful study of what has been achieved elsewhere. - Is mise,
EAMONN NOONAN, Director, KIM, Oslo, Norway.