Lack of protection for immigrants ‘leading to crisis’

IRELAND is facing a racial time bomb because of a lack of legislation to promote immigrants’ rights, the author of a report claimed yesterday.

The warning was made by UCC lecturer and immigrant expert Piaras Mac Einri at the launch of a major report on government services for minorities in the south and north of Ireland as well as Scotland.

Migrants from Eastern Europe are hitting a glass ceiling in jobs, finding themselves overqualified and unable to move up the employment ladder, he warned.

Immigrant supporters, including the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturism, called for steps to enshrine racial equality in law.

Unlike Scotland and the North, there is no legislative provision promoting equality for migrants in the Republic. In addition, laws do not cover institutional abuse which can exist in jobs.

Mr Mac Einri added initial research showed refugees and asylum seekers given the right to remain here were now unemployed in large numbers. A “window of opportunity” was there to prevent a situation like the Paris race riots raising its head in Ireland, he said.

“We haven’t yet been tested in a situation where immigrants may be targeted or scapegoated for a downturn in the economy. It will come sooner or later.”