Church celebrates contribution of immigrants

IMMIGRANTS make a vital contribution to Ireland’s economy and culture, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said last night as he celebrated a vigil Mass to mark the country’s growing multiculturalism.

The Archbishop of Dublin called for protection of and vigorous prosecution of abuses against, vulnerable migrants. He backed the suggestion by Church of Ireland Archbishop John Neill that immigrants who had been living in Ireland for five years should have the right to stay in the country. And he called for an open, transparent, modern and enlightened national migration policy.

Dr Martin was speaking at the Festival of Peoples vigil Mass at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany.