Irish National Review

Libertas candidate calls for block on immigrants

2009-05-15T09:04:00.001-04:00

LIBERTAS CANDIDATE for Ireland East Raymond O’Malley has called for Ireland to close its borders to workers from fellow EU states.

Speaking on Today FM’s Last Word show with Matt Cooper, Mr O’Malley said: “I think a lot of people are very concerned too about the problem of immigration.

“While we’ve massive unemployment in this country, over the last five years we’ve had 500,000 people come in to this country and there has been a funnel effect.

When asked whether it was now Libertas policy to prevent any more workers from the 10 accession states from entering, Mr O’Malley answered: “Well I think as long as we have this rate of unemployment, yes.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0515/1224246568315.html

Racism rife as Irish twice as likely to be given job

2009-05-07T07:16:00.001-04:00

RACISM is rife in Irish companies, with a majority of firms twice as likely to give an Irish person an interview than a foreign national with precisely the same qualifications.

A study found discrimination is so widespread it would be "a one in a million chance" that the preference for Irish-only job seekers is an accident.

Researchers sent 240 pairs of similar but fictitious CVs bearing Irish, African, Asian and German names to companies and found the Irish applicants were twice as likely to be contacted for interview.

In some cases, Irish applicants were told the position had been filled but were offered interviews for other posts while African candidates did not get a response of any kind.

After an Irish and Asian candidate applied for an admin job, the Irish person got a call over her CV while the Asian candidate got an email saying: "I regret to inform you the position is now filled."

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/racism-rife-as-irish-twice-as-likely-to-be-given-job-1731224.html

Integration changes cultures - lecturer

2009-04-30T14:59:00.002-04:00

INTEGRATION IS sometimes used as a euphemism for assimilation in European countries, a senior psychology professor said during a public lecture at Trinity College Dublin last night.

Prof John Berry, of Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, said young people from immigrant or ethnic minority groups were sometimes expected to keep their heritage culture only in the private sphere.

“In other words, the public culture is the culture of the dominant group and all other cultures are down and out,” he said.

Prof Berry said most interaction with immigrants tended to take place in schools or in the workplace.

Both cultures would change as a result of this interaction, and “school, health and possibly policing will be changing here in Ireland”.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0430/1224245683003.html

High levels of racism uncovered in EU report

2009-04-24T09:42:00.001-04:00

DISCRIMINATION against immigrants is widespread in Ireland and the country is one of the most difficult in Europe for minorities according to a major report.

The Irish Human Rights Commission said it is gravely concerned at the findings of the report, the first of its kind, which was published by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency.

Three out of four immigrants from Africa feel helpless in the face of abuse and discrimination that they say affects every sphere of their lives, from ordering a coffee in a cafe to having their children educated.

Even immigrants from other EU countries in central and eastern Europe say they suffer from discrimination with 25% saying abuse is widespread in the country, while more than half of them say they do not know of any organisation that could support or help them.

The figures released in Brussels, which the agency says is just a taster of the full report, shows Africans in Ireland among the top 10 worst groups in four out of five important areas.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/snauausnoj/

Ireland not doing enough to support refugees, says UN report

2009-04-23T14:22:00.000-04:00

The Irish Government is not doing enough to support those who want to integrate into society here, according to a new report published today by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Many of those questioned for the report said they feel they are being discriminated against in the Irish jobs market because of their skin colour.

http://www.herald.ie/breaking-news/national-news/ireland-not-doing-enough-to-support-refugees-says-un-report-1718394.html

Tougher criteria for work permits

2009-04-15T08:36:00.001-04:00

The Government has today announced it is to make it more difficult for foreign nationals to seek employment in Ireland by introducing revised legislation for work permits.

Under the new arrangements, permits will not be granted for jobs paying under €30,000 per annum. Permits will also not be given for a number of professions including domestic workers and HGV drivers.

In addition, the length of time that employers have to advertise jobs will be increased and tougher conditions for the renewal of permits - including higher fees - will also apply.

A further change will see spouses and dependants of future work permit holders having to apply for permits in their own right.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0415/breaking33.htm

FF split over new Brussels partners

2009-04-14T14:49:00.001-04:00

FIANNA Fail's European election candidates were at loggerheads yesterday over the party's move to join a new political grouping in Brussels.

Euro candidate Ned O'Keeffe yesterday said he was "shocked" to see fellow party MEP Brian Crowley still expressing opposition to the party's move to join the liberal group in the European Parliament.

Fianna Fail is a member of the obscure Union for the Europe of Nations, where Mr Crowley is a president.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ff-split-over-new-brussels-partners-1707377.html

Government urged to scrap referendum broadcasting rules

2009-04-02T14:35:00.000-04:00

The Government was today urged to scrap the rule demanding equal broadcasting coverage be given to the Yes and No camps in referendum campaigns.

The joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution claimed broadcasters felt they were being straitjacketed into giving the same air time to both sides, even if the opposition was tiny.

Eugene Regan, Fine Gael Senator, said last year’s Lisbon Treaty campaign showed the 50/50 requirement had destroyed informed debate.

All members of the committee supported the failed document, which is expected to be put to the people again in the autumn.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0402/breaking76.htm

Sinn Féin accuses Government of not consulting public on Lisbon

2009-03-21T08:27:00.002-04:00

Sinn Fein is accusing the Taoiseach of consulting with his European colleagues, but not with the Irish public, on the proposed second referendum on Lisbon.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/politics/sinn-fein-accuses-government-of-not-consulting-public-on-lisbon-14237777.html

Veiled Lisbon threat from German Ambassador

2009-03-19T09:35:00.002-04:00

THE German ambassador to Ireland sparked a new row over Lisbon last night as the EU planned a €1.8m information blitz.

German Ambassador Christian Pauls warned that the country would "throw away its future" if it voted no a second time -- as the European Commission planned an information campaign to encourage a 'Yes' in the Lisbon II vote.

'No' campaigners claim the money will be spent on EU "propaganda".

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/diplomat-sparks-new-lisbon-row-as-eu-plans-836418m-blitz-1677888.html

€20m in child benefits sent abroad

2009-03-13T09:19:00.000-04:00

The Public Accounts Committee has heard that €20m in child benefit payments are being sent to support children living abroad.

Department of Social and Family Affairs Secretary General Bernadette Lacey said it was supporting 10,000 children abroad and this would continue until the child is 18 years of age provided that one parent is living and working in Ireland.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0312/welfare.html

Libertas launches as a political party in the UK

2009-03-10T15:55:00.000-04:00

The anti-Lisbon Treaty group Libertas has launched itself as a political party in the UK.

The party has said it will run candidates there in the European Parliament elections on June 4, as well as elsewhere in the EU.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyaucwkfgbgb/

Report accuses RTÉ of pro-Lisbon bias

2009-03-06T07:47:00.000-05:00

RTÉ’s coverage of the Lisbon treaty was heavily biased in favour of the yes side, a report carried out by an anti-Lisbon group has claimed.

The study by the Campaign Against the EU Constitution (CAEUC), claims 63% of the contributors to RTÉ news items focused on the Lisbon treaty were supporting a yes vote.

Three television programmes (Six One News, Nine News and Questions & Answers) and three radio programmes (Morning Ireland, News At One and Drivetime News) were analysed via RTÉ’s website from January 1 to June 14, 2008.

The study found that out of 510 contributors to these programmes, 320 (63%) favoured a yes vote, while 190 (37%) favoured a no vote.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/idgbausnid/

Latest figures show 10.4% unemployed

2009-03-04T07:38:00.003-05:00

Brian Cowen told the Dáil this morning that more than 354,000 people were on the Live Register in February, up from around 326,000 in January.

The increase pushes the standardised unemployment rate up to 10.4%, compared to 7.7% in the fourth quarter of 2008.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyaukfmhkfcw/

Problems with rural integration - report

2009-03-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Not enough is being done to integrate foreign nationals into rural communities, according to a new report published today.

The report, Reaching Out, which has been compiled by Irish Rural Link, finds that prejudice about race and identity is a huge problem for people from abroad living in Ireland.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0303/integration.html

Report.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0303/ruralireland.pdf

€4.5m in childcare allowance for children living abroad

2009-03-02T07:43:00.001-05:00

The Government paid €4.5m in childcare allowances for children living outside of Ireland last year, new figures reveal.

The overseas Early Childcare Supplement payments quadrupled between 2007 and 2008 from €1.1m to €4.5m, the Department of Social and Family Affairs has confirmed.

This year, non-resident children are expected to account for €7m of the childcare payments because a massive backlog of arrears is slowly being cleared.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Social and Family Affairs said the claims relating to children residing outside of Ireland are complex because it is necessary to cross-check details with European authorities. Hence, significant backlogs and delays have occurred.

When the childcare payment was launched in 2006, it emerged that children of migrant workers who are resident in their home country were entitled to the annual €1,000 payment, even though it was designed to help spefically with childcare costs.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/state-paid-836445m-for-children-living-abroad-1658189.html

Unemployment up by 70%

2009-02-28T09:21:00.001-05:00

THE number of people unemployed leapt by almost 70pc at the end of last year, prompting calls for urgent action to stop the haemorrhaging of jobs.

The number of people out of work rose by almost 70,000 to 170,600 in the final quarter of 2008 with men bearing the brunt of the job losses by a factor of nearly four to one as construction work dried up, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.

The number of people working nationwide fell by 4pc, or almost 87,000, since the end of 2007 -- the largest decrease seen since the CSO first started its labour force survey in 1975.

The number of people working in Ireland is still over two million, but the unemployment rate has risen to 7.7pc and is now higher than the EU average.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/calls-for-urgent-intervention-as-unemployment-jumps-by-70pc-1656959.html

Unemployment rate up to 7.7% at end of 2008

2009-02-27T09:09:00.000-05:00

Ireland's official unemployment rate increased to 7.7% at the end of last year, according to the CSO's latest Quarterly National Household Survey.

The statistics agency says more than 170,000 people were unemployed in the fourth quarter of 2008, an increase of almost 70% during the year.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyauaugbojsn/

Sinn Féin to campaign for another No to Lisbon

2009-02-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

SINN FÉIN has clearly signalled it will campaign for another No vote in the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Speaking at the opening of the party’s Árd Fheis in Dublin last night, Sinn Féin’s Padraig MacLochlainn insisted Lisbon was the "wrong treaty" for Ireland and Europe.

Sinn Féin was the only party in the Dáil to campaign against Lisbon in the first referendum last year. Following the treaty’s defeat, the party said the No vote was a clear signal to the Government that the document had to be renegotiated.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/idojaueygb/

Europe puts off Libertas decision

2009-02-19T14:32:00.001-05:00

THE European Parliament last night postponed officially recognising the Libertas party after receiving a letter from the founder Declan Ganley.

Two weeks ago the parliament shelved a decision to recognise Libertas and grant it funding of more than e200,000 when two of the seven signatories said they never intended to support them.

Millionaire businessman Mr Ganley has now offered more names to the parliament president Hans Gert Pottering.

Mr Pottering has asked the parliament’s legal experts to investigate whether they can be accepted given that the deadline has passed.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ideyidauoj/

Ruling allows refugees stay if they face serious harm at home

2009-02-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

MANY more refugees afraid to return to their own countries should qualify to remain in Ireland following a ruling from the European Court of Justice which says they need only face serious harm if they return home.

As a result, an applicant does not have to prove he or she is specifically targeted if they return to their home country, but should only have to show that because of the level of violence he or she would be at real risk.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ideyqlojey/

Swing in favour of Lisbon treaty

2009-02-16T14:49:00.000-05:00

The latest poll shows that 51 per cent would now vote Yes to the treaty in a referendum, an increase of eight points since the last Irish Times poll in November, with 33 per cent saying they would vote No, a drop of six points. There are still 16 per cent in the “Don’t Know” category (down 2 points). When undecided voters are excluded, the Yes side has 60.7 per cent, with 39.3 per cent in the No camp. That compares to the referendum result last June of 53.4 per cent No and 46.6 per cent Yes.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0216/breaking15.htm

Immigrants not factored into job loss estimates

2009-02-09T15:10:00.001-05:00

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen's prediction last Wednesday that unemployment could hit 400,000 by the end of this year came despite the Government making no provision for Irish and non-Irish nationals who may leave or enter the country as a result of the global downturn, the Sunday Independent has learned.

Given the failure by government officials to factor in any estimates on the expected outflow of workers who lose their jobs during 2009, Mr Cowen's grim forecast could yet turn out to be hopelessly optimistic to the tune of tens of thousands.

For in the case of non-Irish nationals from Eastern Europe, being unemployed in Ireland could still present a more attractive option than a return to one's home country.

The weekly entitlement to jobseeker's benefit stands at over €200 per week here and matches -- and in some cases outstrips -- professional salaries in EU accession countries such as Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania and Latvia.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/immigrants-not-factored-into-job-loss-estimates-1632513.html

Taxpayers to fork out an extra €2bn next year

2009-02-09T15:08:00.000-05:00

TAXPAYERS are likely to have to stump up an extra €2bn from next year as part of the government's plans to bring order to the public finances. It is expected that around half of the planned €4bn "adjustment" in the public finances for 2010 will come from extra taxes.

Informed sources say that the introduction of carbon taxes and increases in in-come tax rates are both "inevitable", while a property tax on every home in the country is "a distinct possibility".

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2009/feb/08/taxpayers-to-fork-out-an-extra-2bn-next-year/

Unemployment is now at 9.2%

2009-02-04T09:21:00.000-05:00

The Taoiseach has said that unemployment could reach 400,000 by the end of the year.

Brian Cowen was speaking after revealing the highest monthly increase in unemployment in more than 40 years.

Mr Cowen told Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that an extra 36,500 people joined the dole queues in January, bringing the unadjusted jobless total to 327,900.

Deputy Kenny said the figures were horrendous, the worst in the history of the State, and that the Government's proposals yesterday did nothing to offer hope or confidence to those who had lost their jobs.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0204/employment.html

European Parliament puts Libertas funding on hold

2009-02-04T09:17:00.001-05:00

An application from Libertas for funding as a political party at the European level has been put on hold.

The European Parliament is authorised to grant funding to parties which satisfy rigorous requirements to show their European qualifications.

An Estonian MP listed as backing Libertas's application now insists that he had not signed any document.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0203/libertas.html

Watchdog calls for tighter immigration safeguards

2009-01-22T12:25:00.000-05:00

The State's watchdog on human rights has today called for tighter safeguards to immigration law and practices.

The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) made its call following the publication of its second inquiry report that examined the treatment of a visitor from Pakistan who was refused entry to Ireland.

The report recommends the Government introduce tighter safeguards to immigration law and practice including a review of the Immigration, Protection and Residence Bill 2008.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0122/breaking34.htm

Cost of deportations brought up in the Dail

2009-01-13T14:55:00.004-05:00

Deportation Orders.

Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will furnish details of costs (details supplied); the breakdown of these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The deportation of illegal immigrants and refused asylum seekers is costly, particularly to distant countries such as Nigeria, China, etc. In most cases removals are carried out using commercial flights which usually involves transit through other European airports as Ireland does not have direct flights to most of the countries of return. In addition, most flights have to be booked at short notice very near the date of departure which involves higher costs than if booked well in advance.

In considering the costs of deportations, the considerable expense arising from the continued presence in the State of persons who are the subject of deportation orders has to be taken into account. These costs include social welfare costs, direct provision costs, and detention costs in certain cases. While it is important to keep deportation costs to a minimum, not to remove persons refused permission to remain in the State would call into question the integrity of the entire immigration system. This would leave this country open to further illegal immigration and even more expense to taxpayers.

Contd

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20081218.XML&Node=H19-132#H19-132

Unemployment up 71% in 12 months

2009-01-09T08:05:00.001-05:00

The Live Register saw an unadjusted increase of 120,987 or 71% in the year to December 2008 - the biggest 12-month increase since records began in 1967.

It compares to an unadjusted increase of 106,864 or 66.1% in the year to November.

Economists expect the unemployment figures to deteriorate significantly in 2009 with the state training agency FÁS predicting that the rate of unemployment will exceed 12% over the course of the year.

ISME described the situation as catastrophic and said that the Government has utterly failed to indicate how it is going to address the problems of small and medium businesses.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0109/employment.html

Dell invites existing 500 Polish staff to seek jobs in Lodz

2009-01-09T07:57:00.001-05:00

DELL IS expanding its Polish operation in the wake of the Limerick job losses and has encouraged its 500 Polish employees in Ireland to apply for the new jobs.

"A lot of Polish people work for Dell in Ireland and they can apply for all open positions in Poland," said Rafal Branowski, Dell spokesman in Poland. "It's more about Polish people working in Ireland - for them it might be an interesting opportunity."

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0109/1231406004614.html

Demographic estimate shows Ireland leads the way for immigration

2009-01-08T06:28:00.004-05:00

Ireland has the highest natural population growth of all the EU countries, +12.0 per 1,000. This contrasts with France at +4.5, Luxembourg at +4.3 and the UK at +3.6.

The report said the EU27 population grew by 4.4 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2008, due to natural population growth of +1.1 and net immigration of +3.3. In total, the EU27 population is estimated to have increased by 2.2 million in 2008.

In 2008, three-quarters of the increase in the EU27 population is estimated to have come from immigration.

In relative terms, Ireland again leads the way for immigration at +14.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, Slovenia was next at 12.6, Luxembourg at +11.9 and Cyprus +11.7.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/baby-boom-puts-us-on-top-of-birth-rate-league-1595151.html

3% decline in asylum applications last year

2009-01-05T19:39:00.000-05:00

There was a 3 per cent decline in the number of applications for asylum in the Republic last year, according to new figures released today.

New figures released by the Department for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, indicate that application numbers are at levels not seen since the mid-nineties.

Last year 3,866 people sought asylum, compared to 3,985 in 2007.

The largest share of applicants came from Nigeria (26 per cent), followed by Pakistan (6 per cent), Iraq (5 per cent), China (4.7 per cent), and Georgia (4.7 per cent).

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0105/breaking32.htm

70,000 retail jobs face axe in 2009

2008-12-28T15:58:00.000-05:00

The economic crisis will significantly worsen in the New Year, with a shocking 70,000 jobs now expected to be lost in the beleaguered retail sector alone.

Retail forms a huge part of the economy with almost 30,000 wholesale and retail businesses in the country.

The sector employs around 200,000 people -- over 9 per cent of all jobs -- and accounts for close to a quarter of consumer spending.

In the New Year, it is widely anticipated that a third of such businesses will close, an unprecedented development which will lead to up to 70,000 job losses.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/70000-retail-jobs-face-axe-in-new-year-1586826.html

Over €6.5m paid in just five years of deportations

2008-12-21T17:17:00.000-05:00

The Department of Justice spent over €150,000 chartering a flight for a sole Ghanian failed asylum seeker earlier this year, the Sunday Tribune has learned.

Four years earlier, the department spent over €50,000 deporting a lone Gambian asylum seeker. The cost of flying one Romanian home came to just €1,000 in the same year. In total, the justice department has spent almost €6.5m deporting 1,493 failed asylum seekers over the past five years.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/dec/21/over-65m-paid-in-just-five-years-of-deportations/

Major concerns raised over asylum seekers leaving infants alone in state-run centres

2008-12-21T17:15:00.001-05:00

MAJOR concerns have been raised about asylum seekers leaving infants and young children alone in rooms at state reception centres without any supervision.

The fears are outlined in a series of inspection reports into reception centres, operated on behalf of the Department of Justice by private contractors.

The reports show that the practice of leaving children, some of whom are just a few months old, alone in their room is widespread at the asylum-seeker complexes.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/dec/21/major-concerns-raised-over-asylum-seekers-leaving-/

One in three prisoners not Irish

2008-12-19T20:17:00.000-05:00

Almost one third of people sent to prison in 2007 were not born in Ireland.

According to the latest report from the Irish Prison Service, more than 11,000 were convicted of an offence last year.

On average there are 3,321 offenders behind bars on any given day, an increase of 4.1%.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1219/prison.html

120,000 more jobs will go, warns ESRI

2008-12-19T20:12:00.001-05:00

The Irish economy will shed almost 120,000 jobs in 2009 and 50,000 people will emigrate, an economic forecast warned yesterday.

The ESRI also believes the Government will be hard-pressed to pay the 3.5pc wage rise due in September under the national pay agreement.

In a Quarterly Economic Commentary, it said GNP will shrink by 4.6pc next year on top of an anticipated 2.6pc contraction for 2008.

"We now expect that average employment will fall by 117,000 in 2009," said the report.

"A fall in employment of that size will be consistent with net outward migration of 50,000, with the unemployment rate averaging 9.4pc."

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/120000-more-jobs-will-go-warns-esri-1580693.html

Recession sees racism rise as minorities are targeted

2008-12-18T14:45:00.000-05:00

THE recession has seen an increase in the discrimination and targeting of minorities, the outgoing state-funded authority on racism has said.

Delivering its final report ahead of disbanding, the National Consultative Committee on Racism (NCCRI) said it was “dismayed” at the Government’s weakening support for groups battling discrimination.

The Government cut the NCCRI’s budget by 100% in the budget, which has forced the group to close its doors. Its role is to be merged into the office of Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan.

The group’s director, Philip Watt, said it was a time to actually increase resources to combat discrimination.

“There has been a significant hardening of attitudes to Travellers and people of colour,” he said saying this was due to the recession.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=80363-qqqx=1.asp

Sign the No2Lisbon re-vote Petition

2008-12-16T20:00:00.001-05:00

We petition the President of Ireland Mary McAleese, who holds the power to stop a referendum if it is deemed unconstitutional or undemocratic. We feel that to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty fulfils these requisites and as such, as the elected President of the Irish state we ask her to use her legislative powers and influence on this matter…

http://www.petitiononline.com/LisbonNO/petition.html

Cowen confident of 'Yes' vote for Lisbon re-run

2008-12-13T17:10:00.003-05:00

Taoiseach Brian Cowen last night said he was "confident" the planned second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty will be successful.

But Mr Cowen said the Government would have to take it "step by step" and stressed he was not yet in position to formally call a second poll by next October.

Following an EU summit, at which he secured concessions on four major issues of concern for the Irish people, Mr Cowen is on track to run Lisbon II.

"On the basis of the agreement today, and on condition of our being able to satisfactorily put guarantees in place, I have said that I would be prepared to return to the public to put a new package and to seek their approval to it," he said.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cowen-confident-of-yes-vote-for-lisbon-rerun-1573730.html

"Govt betraying Irish people"

2008-12-11T08:06:00.000-05:00

Libertas president Declan Ganley is accusing the Irish Government of betraying the Irish people by planning to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Under a plan being discussed by EU leaders in Brussels, the Government will hold another referendum before the end of next October in an effort to overturn last June's 'no' vote.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnauausnid/

Barroso 'convinced' Irish Lisbon demands can be met

2008-12-09T18:21:00.000-05:00

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said today he was “convinced” the EC can satisfy the Irish electorate's concerns over the Lisbon Treaty.

Speaking ahead of this week’s crucial European Council summit on Thursday and Friday, Mr Barroso said the meeting must find a way of enabling Ireland to reverse the No vote on the treaty last June.

“I am convinced that we can respond to [Brian Cowen’s] national concerns while finding a European solution”, Mr Barroso told a news conference in Brussels.

Mr Cowen last week met key European leaders and Mr Barroso to discuss the Lisbon treaty.

Charlie McCreevy talks sense

2008-12-04T19:59:00.001-05:00

LIBERTAS chief Declan Ganley outmanoeuvred all the political parties on the Lisbon Treaty campaign and won the argument, European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has claimed.

In a veiled criticism of the tactics and performance of Fianna Fail and other pro-treaty parties, Mr McCreevy said the Libertas founder had been listened to more than anybody else and was "singularly successful" in getting people to vote 'No'.

The referendum turnout also suggested that a "considerable segment" of the 53pc who voted were those who failed to vote in last year's general election, the European Commissioner said.

"So, therefore, people did take the issue very seriously. So, that has to be respected," he said.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ganley-won-lisbon-debate-says-mccreevy-1563001.html

10 held in human trafficking raids

2008-12-04T06:08:00.002-05:00

A total of ten people have been arrested in a major operation targeting human trafficking.

Four women and three men were arrested following raids on nine brothels and six other locations across Ireland.

This afternoon, another man was arrested by the PSNI in Co Down and a man and a woman were detained by police in Wales.

The four women and three men being held in the Republic are suspected of committing a number of offences including organising and managing prostitution.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1203/trafficking.html

Ireland now only EU state to reject Lisbon treaty

2008-11-26T09:44:00.000-05:00

The Czech Constitutional Court has ruled that the European Union's reform treaty conforms with Czech law, allowing parliament to proceed with ratification. Ireland is now the only member state which has rejected the treaty.

The lack of Czech ratification so far has raised doubts in the EU about the likely performance of the 6-month Czech EU presidency, starting in January.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1126/breaking23.htm

Refusal to declare Lisbon dead 'treason'

2008-11-21T19:10:00.000-05:00

REFUSING TO declare the Lisbon Treaty dead was an "act of treason the likes of which has not been seen since the Act of Union", an Oireachtas subcommittee on Europe was told yesterday.

In a brief presentation that ended in a shouting match and a walk-out, Richard Greene, chairman of anti-Lisbon group Cóir, said the sole objective of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in Europe was "to attempt to overturn the democratic wishes of the majority of the Irish people who voted No" to the treaty.

The subcommittee was set up to examine the result of the Lisbon Treaty referendum and to suggest ways forward for Ireland in the aftermath of the No vote.

Mr Greene said the "brazen effrontery and blatant denial of the result shows the contempt in which the political parties hold the people.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1121/1227137525422.html

Each TD to cost taxpayer €276k next year

2008-11-19T06:38:00.000-05:00

EVERY single TD will cost the taxpayer more than €276,000 to fund next year, official figures have revealed.

On average, each of the 166 TDs will receive €110,000 in basic salary in 2009, an increase of €2,400 on this year’s figure.

This is because the TDs received two separate salary hikes this year, despite the country’s slide into recession and the Government urging pay restraint.

In addition to basic salary, TDs will qualify for an average of €23,800 apiece in travel expenses next year.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=77856-qqqx=1.asp

Romanian and Bulgarian work restrictions to stay

2008-11-17T18:17:00.000-05:00

THE GOVERNMENT is expected to impose work restrictions for Eeropean Union citizens from Romania and Bulgaria for at least another three years due to rising unemployment levels in the State.

This is despite lobbying by the Romanian and Bulgarian governments, which say the move is discriminatory and treats them as second-class EU members.

The European Commission has also encouraged member states to lift labour restrictions against the two member states.

The Government decided to impose a two-year work permit requirements on Romanian and Bulgarian nationals when the two countries joined the EU in January 2007.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1117/1226700658673.html

Czech president: I cannot accept Martin’s hypocrisy

2008-11-13T08:29:00.001-05:00

OUTSPOKEN Czech president Vaclav Klaus branded Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin (pictured) a “hypocrite” last night as a war of words between the two men raged.

The maverick leader’s parting shot at the end of an extraordinary three-day visit was in response to an earlier radio rebuke by Mr Martin in which he attacked eurosceptic comments by Mr Klaus as “ridiculous and inappropriate”.

Mr Martin’s undiplomatic language was initially provoked by the president’s high-profile backing of Libertas chief Declan Ganley, who Mr Klaus compared to a dissident fighting Soviet oppression.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=77345-qqqx=1.asp

Some EU parliaments saw Ireland's rejection of Lisbon as 'disappointing'

2008-11-06T06:22:00.002-05:00

A DETAILED survey of all 27 parliaments in the European Union shows that some regard Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty as a "deep disappointment" and as having created a backlash.

The Bulgarian parliament states that it is "disappointed" with the Irish outcome, as do the parliaments of Slovakia and Slovenia.

The response from the German Bundestag says Ireland's rejection will create a backlash for EU reform, while stressing that ratification must continue.

Greece states that its parliament ratified the treaty by a large majority. "[We must conclude] that we all, not only our Irish colleagues, failed to provide the necessary information on the treaty's benefits and [failed] to widen the public discourse."

The Latvian assembly says ratification is not an option but a necessity, and Lithuania says that members of its parliament have expressed their regret about the Irish outcome at various meetings.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1106/1225893546475.html

Barnardos study on Irish childrens future

2008-11-05T07:04:00.002-05:00

In the future, children will be mobile and will most likely live in another EU country at some stage, the report finds. They are also expected to be more self-reliant, changing jobs many times until they finish work at aged 70.

They will be drawn to business and creative careers rather than traditional professions like teaching , it is predicted.

Family life will be one of the slowest areas of change. Most children will be born to parents in their 30s living in suburbia and will be either an only child or have only one or two siblings.

However children born to lone parents, to a large family of low income or in a deprived area are likely to have limited educational and job opportunities.

Children at risk of poverty will most likely leave school early with minimal qualifications and low literacy and numeracy skills, the report finds.

The outlook for the health of tomorrow's children is grim as they are predicted to overeat, and to lack exercise.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1105/1225523373269.html

EC to take on Ireland over borrowings

2008-11-03T14:38:00.000-05:00

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said the Government would work constructively with the EU Commission when it begins formal proceedings against Ireland over the high level of borrowing in next year's Budget.

Economic Affairs Commissioner Joacin Almunia said today that he intended opening an excessive deficit procedure against Ireland.

The Government will be expected to say how it will cut borrowing levels over the next three years.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1103/eucommission.html

Libertas registered as political party

2008-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

The leader of Libertas, Declan Ganley, has said a report in last Saturday's Irish Times that his party has been registered as a European political party is substantially correct.

On RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said the possibility of establishing Libertas as a pan-European organisation was being looked at, with the possibility of running candidates in many EU member states in the June 2009 European elections.

He said it would provide an opportunity across the EU to provide a proxy referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1103/libertas.html

Immigrants urged to participate in politics

2008-11-03T07:56:00.001-05:00

A campaign is being launched today which it is claimed could see tens of thousands of members of ethnic communities register to vote in next year's local elections.

The campaign, organised by the Africa Centre and New Community Partnership, is part of a wider campaign which includes voter education, and also a call to engage and participate in the 2009 local elections, be it as a voter or a candidate.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1103/voting.html

Government will agree to Lisbon re-run

2008-11-02T18:52:00.000-05:00

The Irish government will give a general commitment to attempt to ratify the Lisbon Treaty when the European Council meets in early December, but will resist pressure from European leaders seeking a date for a second Irish referendum.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is likely to give a commitment to attempt a ratification of the treaty pending declarations from the other EU member states on abortion, neutrality and tax. These declarations could be completed by the end of the year.

Cowen will tell EU leaders that a ratification will not be possible before the European Parliament elections scheduled for June, which will now have to be held under the old Nice Treaty rules.

http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=IRELAND-qqqm=news-qqqid=37275-qqqx=1.asp

Bruton: We need second Lisbon vote

2008-10-31T18:13:00.000-04:00

EU AMBASSADOR to the United States and former taoiseach John Bruton has called for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty because Irish people did not understand it when they rejected it the first time.

Mr Bruton said people should be given a “second opportunity” to vote on the treaty, but warned that another rejection would be “a very serious setback” for the country. Addressing the special Oireachtas Committee on the Lisbon treaty, Mr Bruton said: “If I was pushed into a corner and asked I would say I would favour a second referendum.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=76183-qqqx=1.asp

State ratified 145 treaties last year

2008-10-28T10:25:00.000-04:00

THE Government ratified almost 300 European and international treaties in the seven years leading up to the failed Lisbon Treaty referendum -- 145 of them in the last year alone.

The treaties -- none of which were placed before the electorate -- included agreements on defence, organised crime, extradition, air services, chemical weapons, taxation and mutual assistance in criminal matters.

Details of the treaties emerged as an all-party oireachtas committee begins a review of our contentious referendum process.

The review will examine whether the bulk of future EU treaties can be ratified by parliamentary vote.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/state-ratified-145-treaties-last-year-1511244.html

EU plans to force second Lisbon vote

2008-10-19T19:19:00.001-04:00

PLANS to isolate Ireland and force the country to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty by next March were discussed at a European Union meeting 10 days ago.

Minutes of the event, and of a separate dinner with the French minister for European affairs, record how key French politicians and other MEPs said that Ireland should be put in an “untenable position” by pressing Poland and the Czech Republic to ratify the treaty by December.

The minutes were made available by a high-level source who attended both events. They tally with publicly available EU minutes but include direct quotes rather than the diplomatic language of the official record.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article4969353.ece

Ministers and civil servants to take 10% pay cut

2008-10-14T15:18:00.000-04:00

Cabinet ministers and ministers of state are to have their salaries cut by 10 per cent as part of the budgetary cutbacks, announced today by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan.

In his Budget speech to the Dáil, Mr Lenihan said: “Other public servants in leadership and senior positions may wish to consider whether it is appropriate for them to make a similar move in current circumstances.”

Active rebuttal of Lisbon misinformation urged

2008-10-10T15:09:00.001-04:00

IN THE wake of the Irish vote on the Lisbon Treaty, the European Commission's vice-president has called for a more vigorous engagement by the commission in responding to "misinformation" about the treaty and the EU.

Sweden's commissioner Margot Wallström, in an internal letter to fellow commissioners on the lessons to be drawn from the Irish vote for EU communications policy, calls for the setting up of a "rebuttal function" within the EU executive to counter the type of misinformation she argues was spread by anti-EU forces during the referendum campaign.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1010/breaking3.htm

Tempers flare at first Lisbon 'think-in'

2008-10-09T07:30:00.001-04:00

THE NEW Oireachtas sub- committee on Lisbon was set up in a bid to reconcile the 'Yes' and 'No' sides following the fallout from the referendum.

But instead it began with yet another row as it attempted to get down to business yesterday.

The cross-party committee is due to meet 24 times over the next eight weeks in a frantic effort to establish 'Ireland's future in Europe' before Taoiseach Brian Cowen travels to Brussels for a crucial EU summit in December. At its opening session yesterday, Senator Pascal Donohoe pleaded with members to "look to the future" and not "bore" people with the same old arguments about the treaty.

But he was then attacked by the sole Sinn Fein member, Senator Pearse Doherty, who complained that the committee could be used to make the case for a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tempers-flare-at-first-lisbon-thinkin-1493157.html

Warning on dangers of migrant segregation

2008-10-08T15:07:00.000-04:00

THE CLUSTERING of migrants in some areas may develop into segregation unless social integration is made a key aim of housing policy, according to a Government-funded report to be published tomorrow.

Although it has found there is currently little evidence of segregation, the study warns this could change where low incomes narrowed newcomers' choice of neighbourhood and Irish residents chose to move out because they felt their area had become too diverse.

The emergence of segregated schools could compound the problem.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1008/1223335466229.html

Bilderberg Group says Ireland set for Lisbon 'dog house'

2008-10-05T14:40:00.001-04:00

IRELAND will be in Europe's "dog house" if we reject the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum, according to the chairman of the secretive global businesss organisation, the Bilderberg Group.

Viscount Etienne Davignon issued the stark caution in a rare interview ahead of addressing an international conference on Lisbon in University College Cork (UCC) on Wednesday.

"Ireland will be in the dog house if it says no for a second time", Davignon told the Sunday Tribune." The other states who ratified the Treaty have now become hostages of the Irish position and the Irish should have had some respect for the opinions of the other states.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/oct/05/ireland-set-for-lisbon-dog-house/

Non-Irish seeking unemployment benefit up 80%

2008-10-03T14:50:00.001-04:00

The number of foreign nationals applying for unemployment benefit has increased by almost 80 per cent over the past year, new figures show.

The increase has been felt most sharply by members of former EU accession states where numbers have jumped by some 144 per cent since September of last year.

Overall, a breakdown of live register figures for last month by the Central Statistics Office shows a total of 240,000 people were signing on last month, an increase of almost 50 per cent compared to the same period year.

Of this, the vast majority were Irish (83 per cent, or 199,000) and the remainder were foreign nationals (17 per cent, or 41,200). The CSO's figures - based on data supplied by the Department of Social and Family Affairs - do not provide a breakdown by nationality.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1003/breaking57.htm

EU anger over Irish bailout solo run

2008-10-02T14:38:00.000-04:00

The Government's decision to guarantee the debts and deposits of the country's six largest banks drew a thinly-veiled attack from the Brussels Commission today.

The bailout plan was hatched and announced without consultation with the EU's competition authorities who will have to approve the deal.

And today, as EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes still awaited formal notification from Dublin, she pointedly praised British government cooperation with Brussels over the Bradford &Bingley bailout and made clear her displeasure that Ireland had set up bank rescue plans without consultation.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/eu-anger-over-irish-bailout-solo-run-1487241.html

Britain angry as billions flood into Irish banks

2008-10-02T14:26:00.001-04:00

Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan was coming under increasing pressure from Britain today as billions of pounds flowed into Irish banks because of the Government two-year guarantee on savings.

British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alastair Darling intervened twice with the Irish Government on behalf of UK banks yesterday, amid fears that the Government's blanket guarantee was causing a flood of funds across the Irish Sea.

British Treasury sources, quoted by The Times of London, said Mr Lenihan was told "in no uncertain terms the scheme was a problem for the UK."

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/britain-bleats-to-lenihan-as-billions-flood-into-our-banks-1487378.html

Scheme to teach English to migrants goes nationwide

2008-09-30T10:10:00.001-04:00

A Meath-based project which involves older people teaching conversational English to new migrants will be extended nationwide, it has been announced.

Some 147 people from 19 countries have taken party in the weekly classes in Summerhill, Co Meath. Volunteers are now working with students from Poland, Lithuania, Italy, Argentina, France, Germany, Moldova, Ukraine, Latvia, Algeria, Brazil, Slovakia, China, Spain, Czech Republic, Holland, Hungary, Sweden and Uzbekistan.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0930/breaking34.htm

EU may foot bill for migrants who want to go home

2008-09-29T11:20:00.000-04:00

A FINE Gael TD who was branded as racist for suggesting that non-nationals should be offered incentives to return home may have been just a little ahead of his time.

Yesterday it emerged that the Department of Justice is to look at way of tapping into a €629m EU fund that aims to pay economic migrants who voluntarily decide to return to their countries of origin.

The EU's Return Fund will be available to all member states to provide cash to non-EU immigrants who cannot afford to live here or who have failed in their asylum applications.

But the Department of Justice confirmed last night that officials were examining the rules of the fund to see if it could be applied to EU nationals who want to return home.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/eu-may--foot-bill-for-migrants-who-want-to-go-home-1484960.html

Only Irish girl in class

2008-09-29T11:17:00.000-04:00

A seven-year-old girl who recently started second class in a school in Balbriggan,?Co Dublin, is the only native Irish child in her class. When Rachel Clarke joined her classmates in Bracken Educate Together school earlier this month, her mother realised she was the only child of Irish parents among the 20 pupils. Niamh Clarke says she was shocked at the sheer number of nationalities in the classroom.

"I felt like I was in a different country, like I was the outsider. At first we were the only white people there. Then when we did see white people coming along, they weren't Irish, they were Polish or Russian," she said.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/sep/28/only-irish-girl-in-class/

EU free movement rule 'exploited'

2008-09-26T10:43:00.001-04:00

SOME 4,600 people applied for Irish residency in the past two years on the grounds that their spouses were EU citizens from outside Ireland, including some 600 each from Nigeria and Pakistan, according to Department of Justice figures.

In a document presented to EU justice ministers in Brussels yesterday to show that Ireland faced a problem with "marriages of convenience", the Government pointed to the high rate of marriage between Latvians and immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. Ten per cent of all applications were from Latvians, and 50 per cent of them were married to Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi nationals, figures that were "so statistically abnormal that they cannot have occurred by chance".

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0926/1222374595413.html

Plan to regularise status of migrant workers

2008-09-22T11:42:00.000-04:00

THE GOVERNMENT is to set up a programme to regularise the status of undocumented migrant workers in Ireland who previously held work permits.

Senior officials told unions and employers at social partnership talks last week that the scheme will be aimed at foreign national workers who have become undocumented through "no fault of their own".

The move appears to be a significant U-turn by the Government, which previously signalled that any such move could provide an incentive for illegal immigration.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0922/1221998222088.html

Eurosceptics to help Ganley if he is MEP candidate

2008-09-20T11:01:00.000-04:00

LIBERTAS FOUNDER Declan Ganley has recruited two of Europe's most prominent Eurosceptics to help him if he decides to run in next year's European elections. He will travel to Paris tomorrow to speak at an event organised by a French Eurosceptic party, the Movement for France (MPF), to bolster his European links.

The former veteran Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde and Czech president Václav Klaus have pledged to support Mr Ganley to launch Libertas as a pan-EU political party. Both are ardent opponents of the EU and have tirelessly campaigned against policies that enable the EU to expand its activities beyond a common market.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0920/1221835126848.html

Rules on referendum coverage criticised

2008-09-19T10:49:00.001-04:00

RULES WHICH mean that opposing sides in a referendum must get equal coverage are a "charter for every awkward squad", a Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) conference heard yesterday.

Today FM chief executive Willie O'Reilly, who is chairman of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI), said the requirement gave the No side in the Lisbon Treaty referendum more credibility and less scrutiny than it deserved.

Mr O'Reilly said there was a clear discrepancy between the mandate of the Yes side, which included all the major political parties with the exception of Sinn Féin, and the No side, which largely comprised groups that were not elected, citing the example of Libertas founder Declan Ganley.

"We need to look at how a charismatic person with funding that was questionable was elevated by default by the media into a position of leading what seemed to be a nationwide campaign, yet that person had no mandate," he said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0919/1221773888420.html

Libertas will have to 'come clean' over campaign funds

2008-09-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

THE Government is planning a clampdown on organisations such as Declan Ganley's Libertas to force them to say where they get the money they spend on political campaigns.

After months of speculation about the source of Libertas' funding for its estimated spend of over €1m on the 'No to Lisbon' campaign, Mr Ganley admitted for the first time yesterday that he lent his organisation €200,000.

Meanwhile, the Government's attacks on Mr Ganley intensified yesterday when a minister branded the wealthy Libertas chief a "class-A hypocrite".

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/libertas-will-have-to-come-clean-over-campaign-funds-1478186.html

Redundancies on the cards for 20pc of firms

2008-09-17T21:10:00.000-04:00

A FIFTH of companies said they are likely to make people redundant in the next year, according to a new survey.

And competition for jobs is heating up as more than half of employers have said there has been a huge increase in the amount of CVs being sent to them in the first six months of the year.

The current climate will make it especially difficult for new graduates to find jobs, according to recruitment agency urHired and market research company Focus One.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/redundancies-on-the-cards-for--20pc-of-firms-1476808.html

Al Jazeera TV focus on Irish family who want hijab in schools

2008-09-16T14:42:00.000-04:00

ARABIC news network Al Jazeera has taken an active interest in the plight of an Irish girl who wants to wear a religious headscarf to school.

The Egan family from Wexford, who were caught up in the row over the wearing of the hijab in Irish schools have been featured on the Al Jazeera English channel.

Mr Egan has accused the Government of repressing minority rights while "flaunting itself as the bastion of democracy".

The father of the young schoolgirl spoke to the news network and said that, "It is time the world witnessed the true face of Ireland.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/al-jazeera-tv-focus-on-irish-family-who-want-hijab-in-schools-1476360.html

Study on children and racism

2008-09-15T08:16:00.000-04:00

TWO studies on children’s experiences of racism in Ireland are to be undertaken by Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).

As concern grows that the economic downturn may prompt a shift in attitudes towards migrants and an increase in racism, the institute’s Centre for Social and Family Research has won research contracts worth €250,000 to study Polish migrants in Ireland and the effect of modern lifestyles on migrant children.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=72290-qqqx=1.asp

C of I priest says racism 'sanctioned' by the State

2008-09-15T08:14:00.001-04:00

A senior Church of Ireland priest has claimed that Ireland is a society where racism is officially sanctioned, approved and legislated for.

Speaking in Saint George and Saint Thomas Church, Dublin, yesterday, on Racial Justice Sunday, Canon Patrick Comerford said he was ashamed at the treatment by Garda National Immigration officials of a visiting Catholic priest from Nigeria.

Canon Comerford was referring to publicity surrounding how the Nigerian priest, Father John Achebe, was stopped at Dublin airport last Tuesday night, and his passport was confiscated.

"We are living in a society where racism is officially sanctioned, approved and legislated for."

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/c-of-i-priest-says-racism-sanctioned-by-the-state-1475497.html

The elite and governed on migration collision course

2008-09-14T13:46:00.001-04:00

With one in eight of us worried about our job security, it may be time for some restrictions.

The jobs of the elites -- professionals and public-sector workers -- are largely insulated from displacement.

For them, immigration means cheaper au pairs and faster service in restaurants. The jobs of the governed aren't.

For them, immigration means losing your job to someone with far lower expectations. The elites have a cosmopolitan outlook. To them, our religion and the Irish language are relics of the past. The governed disagree. They've travelled abroad and like foreigners and foreign culture. But they like the idea of returning to an Ireland that is recognisably Irish. On the 400th anniversary of the first one, a second plantation is sweeping the nation and the two sides may be headed for a showdown. If they are, the man in the middle of it all is Minister of State with responsibility for immigration, Conor Lenihan.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-elite-and-governed-on-migration-collision-course-1475230.html

Blacks face job discrimination: ESRI study

2008-09-10T15:10:00.001-04:00

An ESRI analysis has shown that black immigrants are nine times more likely to be unemployed than Irish nationals and are seven times more likely to be discriminated against when seeking a job.

The report says that non-Irish nationals living in Ireland are three times more likely to have experienced discrimination while looking for work than Irish nationals.

In addition, all migrants from non-English speaking countries face a higher risk of unemployment, and report greater difficulties in accessing employment.

Immigrants from English speaking countries do not differ in their reported experience of discrimination from Irish nationals, while those from non-English speaking countries do.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0910/integration.html

Tighter immigration policy favoured by 66% - poll

2008-09-10T15:05:00.001-04:00

ALMOST TWO-THIRDS of adults in the State believe immigration policy should be made more restrictive given the worsening economic outlook, according to an opinion poll to be published today.

The poll was conducted last week among a sample of 1,000 adults in the Republic. Some of the respondents were themselves foreign nationals, but they represented too small a subsample to be separated for analysis.

Gerard O'Neill, chairman of Amárach Research, said respondents had distinguished between their views of recent immigration - which were very positive - and their concerns about future levels.

"People are now saying we couldn't continue as we have been given the new economic realities that we're facing. It's saying there isn't a problem now, but there's a concern that were things to continue at a pace similar to the past 10 years, then it may well give rise to a problem," he added.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0910/1220919678623.html

Govt to receive Lisbon vote research

2008-09-08T14:50:00.000-04:00

The Government is due to get the final version of research, which was carried out to assess why people voted no to the Lisbon Treaty, next week.

But the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said it is already clear that the fear of conscription into a European army was a much bigger issue than previously thought.

He also said the Government has been asked by a number of US companies if the vote meant Ireland might leave the EU, and whether they should continue to invest here.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0907/lisbon.html

FG: Pay jobless migrants to leave

2008-09-05T14:56:00.000-04:00

IRELAND’S 40,000 jobless migrants should be paid to return to their countries of origin, Fine Gael has urged.

The party’s enterprise spokesman, Leo Varadkar, drew heavy fire after suggesting non-Irish people on the live register, whom he claimed cost the State in excess of €400 million a year, should be offered a voluntary repatriation scheme.

Mr Varadkar denied the idea was xenophobic, adding it had been pioneered by Spain’s socialist-led government.

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=71589-qqqx=1.asp

Budget pushed forward to october

2008-09-03T13:58:00.000-04:00

The Government today decided to rush forward the Budget by almost two months to October 14 in light of the rapidly deteriorating economic situation.

With job losses, rising prices and falling tax revenue, figures released today showed unemployment has jumped to 6.1% - a 10-year high.

The Government, which today held its first Cabinet meeting since the August break, said moving the Budget from the first week in December will give clarity and confidence to investors and taxpayers and lay the foundations for a recovery.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlgbkfgbey/

Libertas may field up to 30 candidates in EU vote

2008-09-03T09:51:00.001-04:00

MULTI-millionaire Declan Ganley yesterday revealed plans for an audacious bid to take his 'No to Lisbon' campaign across Europe as an organised political party.

The Libertas leader gave his strongest indication yet that his group would contest next year's European elections across the EU.

Mr Ganley again refused to say where Libertas was getting its funding from or how much it spent in the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign.

But he did confirm Libertas was involved in preparing the ground for a European election run, and the group would need 30 MEPs from across the continent to be effective.

No firm decision has been made yet, but Mr Ganley clearly indicated one plan which would involve running candidates in several countries.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/libertas-may-field-up-to-30-candidates-in-eu-vote-1468253.html

No recession for TD's as they get pay rise

2008-09-01T14:19:00.001-04:00

ALL of our TDs will earn a basic take-home salary of at least €100,000 for the first time from today.

The boost to their earnings comes as Taoiseach Brian Cowen this week attempts to kickstart the collapsed pay talks.

The job of every TD is now officially in the six-figure bracket as the terms of a national wage increase kick in for workers across the country.

The 2.5pc increase is the final tranche of a pay rise agreed under the national partnership agreement, which has yet to be replaced by a new wage deal.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tds-smash-the-8364100000-barrier-with-wages-hike-1466705.html

Disunity in the pro Lisbon camp

2008-09-01T14:11:00.000-04:00

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has been forced to abandon plans for a new high-powered body to salvage the Lisbon Treaty amid ongoing disunity in the 'Yes' camp.

The Dail was due to be recalled this week to set up the cross-party committee to examine the outcome of June's referendum defeat and decide on the future of the treaty ratification.

But failure to reach agreement with Fine Gael and Labour has resulted in the plan being dropped.

Although it is widely acknowledged there will have to be a second referendum, the Government is aware it needs to keep the other 'Yes' parties onside.

The Government is now weighing up its options, but is not in favour of passing the problem on to an existing Dail committee covering European affairs. The move comes as pressure continues to be brought to bear on the Government to come up with a solution.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cowen-is-forced-to-abandon-summit-on-lisbon-1466728.html

Europol: Ireland a haven for illegal immigrants

2008-08-29T13:53:00.001-04:00

IRELAND is a “highly attractive” destination for illegal immigrants and criminal gangs smuggling them in, according to an EU security report.

The report also said Irish criminal gangs were bypassing international drug traffickers in Europe and arranging deals in “source” countries.

“The UK and Ireland are highly attractive destinations for illegal immigrants and organised crime (OC) groups who facilitate illegal immigration,” said the EU Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2008, conducted by Europol.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=71057-qqqx=1.asp

Cowen admits second Lisbon referendum must be an option

2008-08-28T07:26:00.000-04:00

THE Taoiseach conceded yesterday that the Government would have to consider the prospect of a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Brian Cowen refused to rule out the option when he said that his colleagues would consider the need for another referendum in "due course".

But he also said more time was needed to analyse what had happened on June 12 when the public voted 'No'.

Mr Cowen's comments follow hot on the heels of those of European Affairs Minister of State Dick Roche, who said he felt a second referendum would ultimately be needed to solve the current impasse.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cowen-admits-second-lisbon-referendum-must-be-an-option-1464568.html

Irish population to hit 6.7m by 2060

2008-08-26T14:29:00.000-04:00

Ireland will continue to experience one of the strongest population growths in Europe over the next 50 years.

Figures released by the EU Statistics Office today estimate that Ireland's population will have reached 6.7m by 2060.

However according to the Eurostat figures, Baltic states and some eastern European countries will experience a fall in population.

The 'Baby Boomers' of the 1960s will be responsible for the swell in the number of elderly living in the EU over the next five decades.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0826/population.html

Minister admits we need new Lisbon Referendum

2008-08-25T09:31:00.000-04:00

EUROPEAN Affairs Minister Dick Roche raised the prospect of a second Lisbon Treaty referendum last night, saying he believes it is "the appropriate response" to the country's continuing political crisis.

Mr Roche's controversial comments, in an interview with the Irish Independent, came as the Catholic Primate of All Ireland yesterday voiced fears that some Christians had voted against the treaty because the EU was becoming ever more secular in its outlook.

Mr Roche said: "My personal view is that a referendum is the appropriate response to the position we are in. This is very much a personal view at this stage."

He added: "If we want to retain our position as a constructive EU member state, we cannot simply sit on our hands, as some would have us do, and keep saying that 'No' means 'No'."

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/minister-admits-we-need-new-lisbon-poll-1462444.html

Irish asylum case exposes major flaw in EU system

2008-08-24T14:04:00.002-04:00

A MAJOR flaw in legislation could allow would-be refugees to repeatedly apply for asylum in a succession of different European Union countries.

The loophole, which is of potential benefit to hundreds of asylum seekers, allows a person to be readmitted to the Irish asylum system if they evade what's known as a "transfer order".

Under current arrangements, a person's asylum claim must be heard in the EU country where they first claim asylum. However, a case currently being dealt with by the Department of Justice has exposed a major failing in the legislation, one which could potentially delay the deportation process for years.

The person involved – who is believed to be an African national – arrived in Ireland in April of 2006 and applied for asylum here.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/aug/24/irish-asylum-case-exposes-major-flaw-in-eu-system/

Ireland to take in Tanzanian refugees

2008-08-21T14:35:00.001-04:00

Refugees from Tanzania are to be resettled in Ireland under a UN program, it emerged today.

Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan and officials are to travel to the West African country next month to finalise details.

The Tanzania refugees, who are expected to arrive in Ireland in coming months, will be resettled in a town selected by the Office of Integration after detailed local consultation.

The families will then take part in an orientation programme to help them to adjust to Irish life.

Children will be given basic English and mathematics courses while the adults will learn practical tasks such as cooking, household budgeting and applying for a driving licence or a library card.

Senator wants new migrants to sit exam in English

2008-08-21T08:50:00.002-04:00

THE row over immigrants' language skills deepened last night after a Fine Gael senator called for a mandatory English test for all foreigners entering the country.

It comes just two days after controversial remarks by her party colleague, Fine Gael frontbencher Brian Hayes, calling for the "segregation" of immigrant children in secondary schools until they can speak English.

Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames last night said immigrants who wanted to work in the country should have to pass an English language test to improve the process of integration.

"We really need to let foreign nationals know that English is a requirement to live here. It is absolutely ridiculous that some people are here for years without an English competency," she told the Irish Independent.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/senator-wants-new-migrants-to-sit-exam-in-english-1460198.html

Net immigration slows, but they're still coming

2008-08-20T10:13:00.000-04:00

The number of immigrants to the State fell by some 25,700 (23.5 per cent) in the year to April this year, with immigration from the newest EU member states showing the greatest decline, new Central Statistics Office figures show.

The lastest population and migration estimates released today also reveal the number of emigrants was up slightly on the previous year to 45,300. The total number of immigrants fell to 83,800 from 109,500 in the year to the end of April a year earlier.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0820/breaking210.htm

Teachers back call to segregate immigrants

2008-08-19T09:10:00.000-04:00

TEACHERS last night gave a guarded backing to calls for immigrant children who cannot speak English properly to be "segregated" in our classrooms.

This followed a Fine Gael call yesterday for the Government to separate immigrant children with poor language skills from the rest of their classmates.

The party’s education spokesman, Brian Hayes, said children should not be put into a mainstream class until they have a competence for it.

He added: “And if that requires segregation, well then we have got to segregate the child in the best interests of that child.”

He said he was also aware that many parents were frustrated at the effect the lack of segregation was having on the education of their Englishspeaking children.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/teachers-back-call-to-segregate-immigrants-1458490.html

Surge in non-nationals buying first home here

2008-08-18T20:40:00.002-04:00

ALMOST one in 20 first-time buyer houses are being snapped up by Africans, according to figures to be published later this month.

The figures, from the Irish Mortgage Corporation, show that while many Irish-born first-time buyers have been sitting on the property fence this year, the number of properties being bought by non-nationals has surged.

Overall, non-nationals are snapping up one in four first-time buyer houses, compared to about one in 10 three years ago.

Asian first-time buyers have the biggest taste for Irish property. About one in 14 first-time buyer houses are snapped up by Asians, with most of these coming from India, the Philippines, Pakistan and China.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/surge-in-nonnationals-buying-first-home-here-1457456.html

Fewer than 20 census avoiders fined

2008-08-17T13:37:00.001-04:00

Fewer than 20 people have been prosecuted for failing to complete the 2006 census form despite warnings of a zero-tolerance approach for non-compliance and hefty fines for offenders.

Under the Statistics Act 1993 it is an offence to not take part in a census of population with offenders liable to be summoned to appear before a District Court judge.

Prior to the 2006 census, there was a sustained media campaign to encourage full participation and warnings that non-compliance could result in fines of up to €25,000. However a Central Statistics Office (CSO) spokesman has revealed that they only sought to prosecute people in "extreme circumstances" with nobody receiving fines anywhere near the maximum €25,000.

While 2006's census recorded the country's highest population in 150 years of 4.1 million, over 43,000 respondents failed to state their country of nationality. That amounts to more than one per cent of respondents.

http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2008/aug/17/fewer-than-20-census-avoiders-fined/

Reports of racial discrimination up 106% in 2007

2008-08-14T07:43:00.002-04:00

Complaints to the Equality Tribunal on grounds of racial discrimination increased by 106 per cent last year, the body’s annual report revealed today.

There was a 44 per cent increase overall in employment equality claims in 2007 and an 11 per cent increase in equal status claims.

Employment-related claims now account for a total of four-fifths of the tribunal’s new business.

Amounts totalling €461,816 (excluding equal pay and pay arrears etc.) were awarded in compensation where discrimination was found. The average award was €14,431 compared to €10,113 in 2006.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0814/breaking222.htm

Landlords evicting tenants to raise rent

2008-08-12T15:10:00.000-04:00

The credit crunch has lead to a surge in illegal evictions for tenants in the rental market.

According the Threshold National Housing Organisation, tenants struggling to make payments were being forced to leave their homes by unscrupulous landlords.

The downturn in the economy has meant an increase in evictions by landlords who are finding it difficult to meet rising mortgage costs.

Landlords across the country are attempting to ditch current tenants and move in new tenants paying higher rent, Threshold claimed this week.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/landlords-evicting-tenants-to-raise-rent-1452653.html