We must recognise that immigration is changing Irish society, and plan for proper integration of those who are driving our growth, writes Denise Charlton.
In recent weeks the issue of immigration has come to the fore and there has been a lot of debate on the benefits or otherwise, which migrant workers bring to our economy and workforce. Despite these concerns, the recent commentary (and the opinion poll in The Irish Times) has shown that the majority of Irish people have a broadly positive view of immigration and recognise the net benefits that it brings to the country.
Our society is becoming more diverse and the majority of people welcome the contribution migrants are making, and the fact that their presence and hard work has actually made possible various projects (especially in the construction and infrastructure sectors), which otherwise might not have developed due to labour shortages.
There is also recognition of the contribution immigrants are making by complementing employment and skills shortages in areas of enormous importance to the country such as health, agriculture and the hospitality industry.
During this debate, a number of political leaders have publicly stated how much we need, and will continue to need, immigrants for our continued economic success. However, with more than 50,000 migrant workers expected annually, it is striking how little discussion there is in relation to the importance of integration.
We should now be planning and developing strategies that will shape the kind of society that we want Ireland to become in the future. We need to think responsibly about future labour market needs. The Minister for Enterprise is championing a Bill currently which will introduce a system of green cards - Irish style. The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) has been critical of certain elements of how the process will work.
For example, granting only temporary forms of permission to work to some confers few rights of residence and gives no sense of permanency to the holder. This lack of permanency prevents many people from developing a sense of connection to Ireland, and there is a risk that many Irish people will continue to see them as temporary workers rather than valued members of the community.
Migrant workers are not just economic units - they are people with human rights, many with partners and children.
They are paying taxes like other workers and should have an equal right to family reunification, education, housing and social welfare. In many ways, they are the engine driving Ireland's economic growth. Yet, every day the ICI meets people who are evidence of the fact that, far from making their transition to living in Ireland an easy one, Government policies and procedures present them with great difficulties.
One of the most common difficulties faced by people who come to the ICI for information and support are the obstacles presented by our restrictive policies on family reunification. The type of permission to work a person holds determines whether their family is allowed to join them in Ireland, and whether those family members can work. Even Irish citizens married to people from outside the EU have difficulties getting permission to bring their spouses here, because Irish and non-EU nationals currently have no rights under law to family reunification in Ireland, and all decisions are at the discretion of the Minister for Justice.
Integration policy is a difficult and complex area. What is the ideal model? Someone's ghetto is another person's ethnic cultural quarter. For many, total assimilation and adoption of the host country's norms is required.
Others believe that immigrants must be supported in maintaining their own heritage and ethnic, cultural and linguistic traditions. Experts are divided on this topic and countries with many more years' experience of immigration than Ireland still don't agree on the "right" approach. It doesn't do Ireland any good to shy away from an honest and realistic debate. Many of our migrant workers will remain and settle in Ireland; others may be here for a few years saving money or sending remittances in order to create a better life for them and their families back home.
Irish society has now changed fundamentally and for good. It is incumbent on all of us, and especially on our leaders at every level of political, community and business life, to bring the debate forward, to start looking at what kind of society we hope to create for the future.
Now is an opportune time to begin long-term planning in the area of integration. Any discussion will need to have migrants themselves at the centre of the debate and decision-making.
The thinking should be long-term and strategic, and lessons learned recently from France should be taken on board.
Ireland is in the privileged position of having the opportunity to learn from other jurisdictions and it is time we started to heed the experience of other migration destinations.
Denise Charlton is the chief executive officer of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.