'Migrants needed to fill workforce gaps'

Society must accept that immigration is needed to fill shortages in the workforce, a leading research body claimed today.

With 50,000 people coming to Ireland to work in 2004, a study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) stated that historical emigration had been replaced by an influx of non-nationals over the last 15 years.

ESRI researchers insisted that acceptance of the trend would create a much better social climate, enabling the Government to adopt a new immigration policy.

Emma Quinn, co-author of the study, said such a policy would be geared primarily to meeting the long-term needs of the labour market.

“The most tangible way that will happen is through new legislation. Immigration is mainly administration-based and a new coherent act is what is needed,” she said.

“A discussion document was published last April, and NGOs were also having their say, so at last there is a debate going on.”

Moves are underway to introduce laws governing the intake of non-nationals with the document on immigration and residence, published by the Department of Justice.

Submissions have been made by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) and the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Itayi Viriri, IRC policy officer, said a two-pronged approach allowing asylum-seekers to work while encouraging better recognition of immigrants’ qualifications was needed.

“More understanding will make these people feel at home. When you think of the time and money used trying to scour Europe and the rest of the world to get talented people when you have them under your nose, that’s what should be rectified,” he said.

In the ESRI study, The Impact of Immigration on Irish Society, researchers pointed to the need for further study to assess the impact of immigrants on society and services in Ireland.

The report stated: “Acceptance of the fact that immigration is likely to continue in the future, and that it is necessary if Ireland is to avoid shortages in certain occupations, would create a better climate for the development of a more managed immigration policy geared to the needs of the economy and society.”

Figures from the ESRI showed the total number of work permits issued increased phenomenally from 6,250 in 1999 to 47,551 in 2003. It also emerged that some 50,000 people entered Ireland in 2004, while just under 20,000 left the country.

Ms Quinn, co-author of the report, said research on how selection systems allowed people to stay could also contribute to the development of a managed immigration policy.

The ESRI noted that non-nationals living in Ireland appeared to be isolated from the local communities they lived in, but most of the studies have been limited to African communities in Ireland.

Ms Quinn stressed more research across a broader range of groups was needed to understand the life of immigrants and how ties to home and destination countries could influence migration.

The ESRI is currently completing a study of asylum-seekers and work-permit-holders. A report, the first postal survey compiled by the ESRI due out next year, will reveal attitudes of non-nationals to racism, discrimination, education and occupation.