A Seanad seat for immigrants would be a statement of inclusivity

Dear Taoiseach Mr Enda Kenny,

We would like to extend our congratulations on your re-election as Taoiseach and wish you and your Government every success in the demanding work ahead.

We would like to also bring your attention to the lack of political representation of migrants in Irish politics. In the last decade, there has been a rapid change in the structure of Irish society. Modern Ireland is a diverse republic with a significant presence of migrants. According to the last census, there are over 544,000 people living in the State who come from different countries. This makes up 12 per cent of the total population. At the same time, migrants are invisible in many aspects of life, including politics and civic structures within society.