The Human Rights Commission and Law Society of Ireland will jointly host a public conference on Migrant Workers and Human Rights in Dublin on Saturday, 15th October, commencing at 9.15am.
The Human Rights Commission and Law Society of Ireland will jointly host a public conference on Migrant Workers and Human Rights in Dublin on Saturday, 15th October, commencing at 9.15am. It takes place in the context of significant existing and anticipated immigration, Government proposals on work permits, green cards and a major overhaul of the immigration and residence legislation. Other developments in this fast changing area are the planned recruitment of migrants into the Gardaí, the proposed relaxation of the two-year period for eligibility for social security, and the regular reports of the exploitation of migrant workers.
The conference will examine the Government proposals in relation to immigration and residence, within the framework of a wide ranging discussion of the economic context, the experience of different countries and international developments at UN and EU level.
"We look forward to a meaningful debate on the human rights of migrant workers which we acknowledge is a complex area requiring consideration of a range of issues such as conditions of entry and residence, work permits, family reunification, freedom of movement, racism and discrimination, employment, social inclusion. We have a window of opportunity now to get our legislation and policies right. It is crucial, for all our sakes, that we deal with those issues in a coherent and enlightened fashion and in a way that ensures the highest international human rights standards are applied" stated Dr. Maurice Manning, President of the Irish Human Rights Commission. Law Society President Owen Binchy added: "We have learned from the past 30 years in Northern Ireland that there is no cause without an effect, even if it takes a while to happen. If we get our approach to migrant workers right at this stage, we should be able to achieve a tolerant and culturally enriched society".
A distinguished panel of speakers from Ireland and abroad will address the day-long conference. Speakers include Ex congressman Bruce Morrison, architect of the Morrison visas; Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam, Chairman of the UN Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers; Louise Christian, a UK immigration solicitor, Cathryn Costello, Worcester College Oxford; Mike Jennings of SIPTU, Piaras MacEinri of UCC and Paul Burns, Head of Immigration Policy in the Department of Justice. The conference will also have the benefit of the experience of practitioners in the field of immigration. They are Noeline Blackwell, Director General of the Free Legal Advice Centres, Aisling Ryan, immigration solicitor and Catherine Cosgrave of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
For further information contact:
Mary Ruddy, Human Rights Commission
Tel. 01 8589 601
Mobile: 087 2400695
Alma Clissmann, Human Rights Committee, Law Society
Tel. 01 6724831
Please see conference programme on: http://www.ihrc.ie and www.lawsociety.ie
Note for editor
Since 1997, the total number of immigrants coming to Ireland on an annual basis has consistently exceeded 40,000. Between May 2004 and May 2005, over 26,000 immigrants from the EU accession states and 9,000 from non-EU states are estimated to have come to Ireland. In addition, there are seasonal workers, a large student population, and members of immigrants’ families. Recent government estimates indicate that approximately 400,000 immigrants will be needed in the coming years to sustain economic growth. Population and migration estimates published by the Central Statistics Office in September 2005 indicate that one in 10 people living in Ireland will soon be a foreign national. Proposals for green cards and a new immigration and residence regime have been made by Government. Recruitment of immigrants into the Gardaí is now planned. Meanwhile there are reports of the exploitation of workers and the difficulties which they face. The importance of a public debate on the reception and treatment of migrants is therefore very immediate.