PDs left red-faced over ban on non-EU citizens

THE Progressive Democrats refuses to accept non-EU citizens as party members despite the fact that all resident immigrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, can vote in local elections.

A report, published later today, reveals that the Progressive Democrats is the only political party which refuses non-EU citizens as members.

The findings will be deeply embarrassing to PD party president, Justice Minister Michael McDowell and party leader, Tánaiste Mary Harney, who between them oversee the Government's immigration policies.

The report, called Positive Politics, is based on responses to questionnaires sent to all political parties on the inclusion of immigrants in politics. Commissioned by the Africa Solidarity Centre (ASC), it found that none of the political parties has implemented any measures to actively entice non-nationals into politics.

UCD social policy lecturer Dr Bryan Fanning, who co-wrote the report, said there was a gaping chasm between society and the representation of political parties.

"Ireland's political parties look nothing like the face of 21st century Irish society. They just don't seem to identify immigrants as contributors to Irish society," he said.

The PDs were last night accused of being hypocritical by refugee and human rights groups as well as the Government's racism watchdog the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI). "It is inconsistent at the very least with democratic policy in Ireland. We would see this as quite problematic," said the NCCRI's Jacqueline Healy.

Peter O'Mahony of the Irish Refugee Council said: "You would presume any party committed to inclusion would not exclude people on the basis of nationality."

Amnesty International said it was clear political parties had no understanding of the challenge posed by the growth of racism. "They will all react with outrage to the suggestion that they may be guilty of propagating institutional racism in their operations, yet across the board they have no policies or practices planned or in place to encourage members of ethnic minorities to become members or candidates for their parties," said development officer Jim Loughran.

A PDs spokesman said the party's constitution had been in force since 1985 and was being reviewed.

"A committee looking at a complete overhaul of the constitution began sitting at the beginning of the year. The hope is a new constitution will be put to members and ratified early in the spring," he said.

It is not known whether the exclusion of non-EU nationals from party membership has yet been raised in any review proceedings.