Migration: A necessary element of the past, present and future in Ireland.

The need for Immigration

The history of the our country is pervaded with tales of migration, from the necessary departure from Irish soil during times of Famine, the Great Depression, recession in the 1980s and of course the current day consequences of the collapse of the Celtic Tiger. Between 1871 and 1961, the average annual net emigration from Ireland consistently exceeded the natural increase in the Irish population, which shrank from about 4.4 million in 1861 to 2.8 million in 1961.[1] With the exception of the 1970s, when, for the first time in Irish history, net migration to Ireland was positive, outflows continued to exceed inflows until the early 1990s.

However migration is not a faucet of our society’s history which completely emanates doom, embodying unhappier times. The 1990s – early 2000s economic boom saw unprecedented levels of prosperity. Ireland experienced a flow of migrant workers, both EU workers and asylum seekers from outside the Union. In 1996, Ireland reached its migration "turning point," making it the last EU Member State to become a country of net immigration. This was a consequence of rapid economic growth which created an unprecedented demand for labour across a wide range of sectors, including construction, financial, information technology, and health care. Unemployment declined from 15.9% in 1993 to a historic low of 3.6% in 2001.[2]

A recent report ‘Migration and the Economy’ compiled by the economist Jim Power, for the Integration Centre (a not - for – profit organisation dedicated to promoting integration) has found that even after the crash, immigrants are playing a vital role in the Irish economy. In fact for Ireland to prosper, it is necessary to promote inward immigration.

This is a stark contrast to the commonly held view that migrants are in fact a burden on the Irish economy.

The report found that foreign born works work at all levels of the economy, most working in lowly paid, service and administrative jobs. In some trades they make up one third of the workforce. The highest number of migrants came from Poland and then from the UK, both EU countries. The report also states that immigration was vital to the Irish economy in the boom years when the unemployment rate fell below 4%. It was commonly agreed that immigration was necessary. However, after the crash in 2008, there were elements in Ireland who said that immigration was unaffordable.

The report stipulates that there is little evidence to support this. It states that immigrants are retraining. There is no evidence of benefits tourism being a motivation for immigration into Ireland.

 'The non-Irish population is highly skilled with qualification levels exceeding that of the foreign population in other EU countries. The overall majority hold professional or trade qualifications. The variety of language skills they hold is vital to the Irish economy…, in short, the immigrant population has been and remains a key asset to the Irish economy.'[3]

The report recommends various measures to encourage immigrants to stay.

·        An improvement to the employment permit system in order to facilitate the recruitment of non EU workers.

·        Improved English training for immigrants.

·        A more streamlined system for recognising foreign qualifications.

·        Greater efforts to attract immigrant entrepreneurs.

·        The enactment of a statutory right to family reunification for victims.

·        Improved anti-racism measures in the workplace.

·        Greater commitment from the Gardai to tacking racist incidents

·        Keeping personal tax levels low to avoid scaring immigrant workers.

It is apparent from recent case law; M.M v minster for Justice Equality and Reform & Attorney General[4], Okunade v Minster for Justice, Equality and Reform & Attorney Genera[5]l,  that an urgent reform of our system of asylum application is required.

 Migration has been an obvious element in attempts to recover in the past, and this is not about to chance. However, in contrast to popular belief, this report commands that rather than encouraging our youth and recent graduates to depart from our shores, we should in fact be more encouraging of people arriving to avail of employment opportunities here.

Brophy Solicitors

4.12.12

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[1] Figures sourced from http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=740 retrieved 3.12.12 at 10.18 a.m.

[2]Ibid.

[3] Source :http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-11-01/irish-report-says-immigration-vital-to-economic-success. Retrieved 3.12.12 at 10.44 a.m.

[4] Case C- 277/11 M.M v minster for Justice Equality and Reform & Attorney General, 22 November 2012.

[5] {2012}IESC 49.

European Commission Report on Immigration and Asylum

The European Commission last week published its annual report  into immigration and asylum in the EU. This is the third year the Commission has reported on this area, responding to a request from the European Council to track the main developments at EU and national levels.

To be welcomed are the positive public attitudes towards the protection of asylum seekers and internal migration within the EU and the overall conclusion of the report that migration is essential for the enhancement of the EU, despite current economic recessionary pressures.

With respect of asylum, in the year 2011, the EU experienced an increase of 16.2% in asylum applications. The report notes that this increase reflected the dramatic events of the Arab Spring. In terms of public attitudes towards those seeking asylum, a sizeable 80% of those polled believe that EU Member States should offer protection and asylum to those in need.

The report identifies the achievement of a Common European Asylum System in 2012 as a key aim of the EU. However, to the outside observer, conflicting political priorities and standards across EU Member States appear to make fulfilment of that goal a long way off. Indeed, a recent opinion piece in the Irish Times by Sue Conlon of the Irish Refugee Council notes the serious shortcomings and disparities in our own asylum appeals system.

With respect of migration within the EU, 67% of those polled for the report that travelling within the EU without internal border controls is important to them. The report highlights that Schengen, as an area without internal border controls, is one of the principal pillars of the EU and has facilitated travel for over 400 million Europeans in 26 countries.

The report is careful to place the EU's migratory situation in the wider global context, noting that just 9.4% (around 20.2 million) of the world's migrants are third-country nationals residing in the EU.

Overall, the report reflects our own view that migration can be an enriching experience for EU Member States. Indeed, the report found that public attitudes towards migration and asylum are generally positive. As the report concludes: “Migration is and will continue to be an essential enhancement for the EU, not only in economic terms, but also in respect to the social and cultural aspects of our societies. Understandably, it has also contributed to certain perceptions which need to be aired through open and balanced debates, not dominated solely by anti-immigration rhetoric. Whilst the downsides of migration are often widely reported, one should not forget the positive contributions that migration brings and will need to bring in order for the EU to grow and continue to thrive.”

Brophy Solicitors

03.06.12 

“IMMIGRATION IS, ON THE WHOLE, GOOD FOR ECONOMIES”

We were interested to read the article 'Let Them Come' in this week’s Economist that concludes: “Immigration is, on the whole, good for economies.”  

The Economist argues that migrants are generally good for rich countries, even in these recessionary times. The flexibility and willingness of new workers migrating in can boost productivity and encourage innovation. But when economies are at low ebb, governments are reluctant to leave migration flows to the labour market and are quick to reintroduce limited border controls, they argue.

Such a response is starkly illustrated in the UK with the introduction of the points based immigration system and the recent so-called ‘cap’ on inward immigration. But even such efforts to control inward migration do not always work. An article in the Guardian newspaper last week commented on the actual rise in immigration into the UK as EU migrants arrive to fill gaps in the employment market.

Meanwhile, here in Ireland, we have seen a progressive tightening of the rules on employment permits. Our own experience shows that it is becoming increasingly difficult for applicants to obtain permission to work in the State. In visa refusals, we see the oft-repeated argument that the applicant risks becoming a burden on the State: economic considerations are alive and well in the Department.

But the Economist makes some sound arguments in favour of flexibility and leaving economic migration flows to the labour market. Migrants are needed to fill skills gaps; they provide a flexible, mobile work force. When they are here, they work hard and are valued employees. Concerns about public services and immigration in such hard times are understandable. But immigration is generally good and even in these tough times, the government should think twice before tightening border controls any further.

Brophy Solicitors

30.08.11