Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A WIDE-RANGE of measures are being introduced to make Ireland a more welcoming place to migrants, it has been announced.
Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, along with Integration Minister David Stanton, unveiled the the framework for Government action on migrant integration from 2017 until 2020.
Under the plans, a number of measures will be introduced, including:
In most cases, civil service employment is not open to non-EEA nationals. Fitzgerald feels this issue is important in terms of beginning the process of “making the civil service representative of the broader population”.
Speaking about the strategy, Tánasite Fitzgerald said: “Ireland is increasingly diverse. Integration has to become part of our DNA so that its benefits can be felt by migrants, refugees and by society as a whole.
“The Migrant Integration Strategy provides a framework for action on integration for the next four years.”
CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Brian Killoran, welcomed the new strategy, saying that he was happy that part of it was focussed on how to report abuses within employment.
He said: “Also positive is the recognition of the need to deliver intercultural awareness training for all frontline staff in the public sector; improve access to appropriately qualified interpreters and translators where needed, especially in healthcare settings and focus on the employment needs of particularly vulnerable migrant communities.
“The Immigrant Council also welcomed the Government commitment to provide funding for local community integration activities and initiatives, as well as the commitment to resource NGOs and other working with migrant communities.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Anyone notice that the Apple money just evaporated along with the bumper tax takes we had? Almost like FFG just wanted to get elected and it’s back to cuts and taxes, cuts and taxes.
@Keyser Söze: IPAS
@Be Lucky: pisssing away money on that. Billions
@Keyser Söze: yep, there are no elections planned after the budget, so cuts, taxes, hairshirts…
Possible they’ll let the Áras go to Connolly (then she’s out of the Dáil) and will only have a “cost of living” budget when Local and GEs are on the horizon. As in the 2024 and (mostly) 2025 budgets.
@Keyser Söze: Cuts…if only. Which Irish Government ever cut back any Departmental budget? It’s a bottomless money pit.
When the time comes make sure you and government pals put the Irish 1st…just this once!
@Quinnladden1: when have the Irish not been put first? In what way?
@Paul Fahey: The most obvious one is bad management of the economy leading to the emigration of up to 10M people.
@Pat Barry: 10 m people since when? I have issue with the economy as noted below, but we are currently in full employment.
@Pat Barry: 10m people,you must going back as far as the famine.
@Pat Barry: Just pulling figures outta the blue AGAIN to feed your right wing rhetoric!!!
@Paul Fahey: no homes for Irish,guaranteed housing for immigrants.
@r k: Nonsense. How can you actually believe this tripe?
@Pat Barry: You’re right, Dude. 10 million emigrating from a country with a population of 5 million is definitely bad management.
@r k: More lies,why spread lies that can easily be fact checked
@Paul Fahey: full employment in an economy where those on low wages haven’t enough to meet rising costs. Many working poor in Ireland. Claiming full employment proves everything is fine is like saying a house is solid because it has a roof — while ignoring the cracks in the foundation. If people are working but still can’t afford food, rent, or heating, the system isn’t sound. I notice that our leaders never have to worry about such things. Their stay in office is too long by far. A midterm election to keep them on their toes would be better IMO
@Daniel Roche: go on…
@Trevor Donoghue: That’s 10 million people since 1800, including the famine years. How is this figure anyway representative of poor “management of the economy” as per the OPs original comment.. We were under occupation for half that time. I’m as critical of FFG as anyone.. but pulling BS like this out is pure loony tunes stuff for the tricolur waving brigade.. bringing shame on our flag.
@Jason Memail: what part is wrong so? I suspect you are another “born into” a party and will tow the party line regardless. Open your eyes to what is happening ffs.
Prove my previous statement wrong,if you can…
When it comes to tariffs, the government’s attitude to the irish is ” let them eat cake “
@Alexa Reborn: that phat headed phuck and his cronies won’t be affected anyway, it’ll be the ordinary workers, we will be crucified!!!
@Denis Mc: seriously, is there anybody out there who believes a word from this skidmark,as housing minister he did f–k all but lie and bluff and repeatedly told us he was on target to build homes for all.(We know how that worked out).pity his father didn’t pull out and save the people of Ireland from having to look any listen to that walking phlegm.
Will they be mindful enough to stop deducting USC payments from tax payers? This was to be a “temporary tax” to bail out the banks and bond holders.
They have now removed pay caps on Bank Execs (allowing annual wages of over €500k), sold Government owned shares and allegedly made money (which is totally false but that’s another thorn).
So why are tax payers including pensioners still being paying USC?
Mícheal Martin, Pascal Donogue and Simon Harris need to stop taking this unfair tax
@Peeta Griffin: Agree 100 per cent. Also, the cost of living added 3,000 to an average bill since this government formation two elections ago. Also , homeless record numbers, infrastructure falling apart, etc. Yet MM and SH think they have done a great job.
@Peeta Griffin: people voted for those responsible for the crash, the USC etc.
only ourselves to blame at this stage we deserve it.
@did you every wonder: never mind what slimey Simon and his invisible handbag think, or mehole that money was only resting in my wife’s bank account, there was no bank bailout Martin think, these reprabates are only out for one thing. Do you know what is yet?,go on ,have a stab in the dark!
But they have no problem finding 5 €billion for the “refugees”.
@edward smith: ipas centers nodular home’s @ 439000 a shot and date center’s are priority now , housing for locals is not happening health care for kids is a disaster locals have to rise funds for extra teachers in local schools big teens can’t afford to go to third level now ,fffg Lowry gang only want imported labour it’s feck the locals now Australia that way
Sounds like excuses being made already for The Govts failings. Taco Trump talks about Tariffs yet again and Govt straight with “Oh have to tighten our belt” talk and we know Trump will flip flop on this again
Poor Darragh has failed at everything he put his hand to so far. Best thing for him to do is say and do nothing.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: That’s exactly what he does…..Nothing.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: he’s a complete waster
Basically, the government is starting to psychologically prepare us for getting hammered in the budget! In classic fashion, though, there may be some goodies doled out to various sectors here and there so they can claim things could’ve been far worse except for their prudent fiscal management. I imagine Budget 2026 should be a shocker altogether reminiscent of the 70s! Hair shirts at the ready…
@William Tallon: That is boom to bust and people vote for it, no sympathy.
in a nutshell from fffh Lowry gang look after buddies cronies and magners types feck the locals poor and homeless
@jn: fffg traitors
We believe ye.
And today on things that definitely won’t happen
Fatuous comment from O’Brien. The junta know they are going to engage in a tax grab and wreak hardship on the masses! Multinationals and immigrants will be the only winners in this budget.
He a muppet
So from the man who wouldn’t know what a house looked like if it fell on him. I feel so much better
Easy money gone (but they have been talking about this for last 10 years!!!)
FFG are all C U next Tuesdays.
If only there had been surplus income they could have invested for such an outcome. Whatever way we look at this, it has been accepted for sometime that our economic model is not sustainable, but what have our political class done to prepare for this?
@Paul Fahey: political class? On here all I hear at each budget is what did I get from the budget etc. Ppl don’t care about long term it’s all me me me and this reflected in politics.
@John Purcell: people can and do benefit whilst considering the long term too, they are not contrary to each other.
@Paul Fahey: people do not care one bit about any sort of investment. They all want tax cuts and better service.
All u have to do is find the budget article on here and it’s all ppl moaning they don’t get enough.
@John Purcell: We have been told that an economy based on multinationals is dangerous, why so many are fearing for their jobs. This is an economic policy from the 1950s and why it was brought was to help grow indigenous companies who will have a loyalty to Ireland. Multinationals by and large have a loyalty to the USA and are only here for the abysmally low corporation tax that they pay whike everyone plays their taxes or are brought infront of Revenue. I’m no economist and can see the absurdity of this.
@Paul Fahey: there is a surplus. Higher tax returns that estimated every year for around 7 years now and the windfall payment from Apple of around €13BILLION
They say there setting it aside for a “rainy day” fund.
Well considering the state of our health service, under resourced Emergency Services and homeless figures at a record level. @MichealMartin @SimonHarris @PascalDonohue – NEWSFLASH its raining!
@Peeta Griffin: You highlight that €13BILLION like it’s some massive amount that could cure all our woes. It wouldn’t even cover 6 months of pension payments !!
Complete plank trust a wet fart in white trousers before that lot
What the f### does that muppet know about anything?.An abject failure. Look at his previous portfolio performance! But he got thousands of 1st preference votes in the last election. The mind simply boggles.
Mass unvetted migration and mass unemployment here we come. What can possibly go wrong
If and it’s a big beautiful ,If, Mr Trump does enact the 30% import tariff on the 1st.August, the outcome of this tariff will not be known for months. Our budget day is in October, so are/will our Big Beautiful Givernment try and use this promised tariff to withhold any reliefs to hard pressed workers and families
The next Budget, like every budget in the last 2 decades will prioritise the 2 most important groups in our society.
The civil service and the long-term unemployed.
@Gerry Kelly: 200%
A proven liar
Great rid of all the refugees and Ukrainians absolutely billions saved with the swipe of a pen problem solved.
@Rian O’Callaghan: not to happen paddies shipped off to Australia first , ipas centers are new fffg fast profit people farming , it’s like legalized slave trade that english were at back in the day when hundreds of thousands of paddies got shipped off to Carribbean and USA as slaves Google it
@jn: and never a Day of Commemoration for this only with fffg it’s back and tans dag and stuff to do the English , fffg is erasing our heritage and culture
Money sticks with money, old or new, always has and always will. A terrible beauty and all that.
He’s hopeless
You can be sure he’ll get a pay increase
luckily we have endless job/retraining/upskilling opportunituies one can avail of to earn extra income.
no better country.
@Paul Kavanagh: most of these courses training are in Dublin and cork with no availability of or affordable accommodation for people from small towns or country side , public transport is a disaster in Ireland for connections and costly
@jn: 1000s of courses available online.
Wonder will he put the tarmac up aswell?
Who ate all the pies
So in other words, more pay rises for themselves while everybody else has to take the hit
How is this twit still a minister? Talk about scraping the bottom of the trash can.
Structural Change…. what does this mean Simon???
We are the second most expensive country in Europe!!
have your say