Integration: From Theory to Practice. The Experience of Canada, UK, Norway and Ireland
Hosted by the NCCRI and the British Council
Date: Friday 2nd of November 2007
Time: 9.30am-1pm
Location: Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
With the emerging development of integration policy in Ireland the NCCRI and the British Council have come together to organise this seminar to draw and learn from the integration experience in other countries and in particular, Canada, UK and Norway. The seminar will bring together experts from countries with diverse experience of immigration to discuss and compare policies against EU averages and to look at examples of initiatives that have been developed in other countries. Guest speakers include Jack Jedwab, Executive Director, Association for Canadian Studies; Eamonn Noonan, Director, Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities, Norway; Angela Mason, National Advisor for Equalities and Improvement & Development Agency Cohesion, UK; Kensika Monshengwo, NCCRI and Piaras Mac Einri, Director, Irish Centre for Migration Studies, UCC.
This event marks the official launch of the Migrant Integration Policy Index in Ireland. The Index focuses on improving recent migrant integration policy in the European Union by creating a platform for fact-based, European-level dialogue on integration. This is an important dimension of an overall integration policy that also needs to take account of longstanding, second and subsequent generation minority communities. Over 30 events are taking place across Europe to mark the launch of this publication.
“I welcome this study as a work in progress towards developing a comparable human rights based framework on integration policy. Indeed integration is a major challenge and demands that we recognise and understand that our society has always been diverse and not just recently subject to such diversity. It demands that we also look at those who have a part of Irish society for a very long time and learn also from their experiences.’’ Anastasia Crickley, Chairperson of the NCCRI and European Fundamental Rights Agency.
“The Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) is the largest study ever undertaken of the treatment of legal immigrants across 25 EU Countries and 3 non-EU countries. The true value of MIPEX lies not merely in the publication itself but more in the relationships, conversations and debates which this fact-based resource can facilitate. There is an urgent need for a better informed and more constructive debate on integration policy in Europe. We hope that this objective and comparative account of what's happening on the integration policy front in Europe will trigger wider discussion, greater understanding and more effective policy development.’’ Tony Reilly, Director, British Council Ireland
For further information please contact Philip Watt at: 0876370557
Tony Reilly, Director British Council at: 0868188243
Tel 353 (0)1 8588000
Copies of the Migration Integration Policy Index will be available at the event.
For further information on the index please log onto: http://www.integrationindex.eu/
Speakers will be available for interview by request only. Please contact Kate at 0868166490 tomorrow to arrange an interview after the event.
