Accepting immigrants - It is up to each one of us to play our part

THE past two decades have seen change — constant change — in the composition of our society. Immigration has changed this country probably forever.

Because we were so busy enjoying material success we were not too bothered by the influx of immigrants, the impact they might have on our communities or labour markets. Shamefully, we may have been indifferent to the difficulties faced by the tens of thousands of people hoping to begin a new life in this country.

We have thankfully, without any great conscious effort, avoided the conflicts and huge social divisions immigration has brought to other parts of Europe because most of those who chose to come here did so at a time of plenty and opportunity. But the worm has turned and there is potential for the kind of conflict that has divided other European countries.

Today we report on an incident where a child playing in an under-14 football match was the victim of protracted and vile racial abuse. The abuse came from a group of teenage girls and the fact that adults did not stop them makes this outburst all the more worrying.

The incident shows that the potential for conflict is often barely covered by a veneer of civility. And, as our economic situation changes, that veneer will be tested with greater regularity and force.

This is not just a challenge for Ireland. Confronting illegal — and that is an important distinction — immigration has become a key objective in France’s presidency of the EU. President Sarkozy argues that the numbers involved cannot be sustained and may have a corrosive effect on social attitudes. It is possible that the economic downturn will curtail immigration to the extent that hard decisions will be kicked to touch.

Already the number of people from the EU’s newer members who registered to work or to access services here has fallen by 40% in the first half of the year.

That trend may be accelerated in Spain where the government plans to pay unemployed immigrants to return to their countries of origin and stay there for at least three years.

Earlier this month, in Cannes, EU foreign ministers provided broad support for the draft European pact on immigration and asylum. The measure may be signed off in October. Our Government is happy to allow France make the running given that the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill is before the Dáil.

That measure proposes a single appeals system for asylum seekers, to speed up the process and to create a situation where, if an immigrant does not have ministerial approval to be in the state, that person may be removed without notice and detained for that purpose.

The bill has been criticised and the UN High Commission on Refugees suggested some changes as did the Irish Human Rights Commission, the Irish Refugee Council and some voluntary agencies.

Like so many other inevitabilities immigration is a change we have not prepared for very well and we may pay a heavy price for that lack of planning. But unlike so many other areas we are not dependent on the government to lead the change and each of us can contribute to making this country, once again, Ireland of the thousand welcomes.