President to launch cultural diversity forum

President Mary McAleese will launch talks today exploring how Ireland has benefited from immigration.

The event at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin will be addressed by a number of experts and examine how cultural diversity has impacted upon the country.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland has organised the one-day event.

Dr Demetrios Papademetriou, president of the Washington-based think-tank the Migration Policy Institute, will be among the speakers.

He is an acknowledged expert on migration policy and adviser to senior government and political party officials in more than 20 countries.

He co-authored the report, Gaining From Migration: Towards A New Mobility System, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development last month.

Also addressing the event will be Rotimi Adebari, Mayor of Portlaoise Town Council, and consultant on interculturalism.

Mr Adebari works with government agencies to bring about further understanding of Ireland’s cultural diversity.