March 2, 2008
IRELAND TODAY
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Rainbow over Ireland |
Until the 1990s Ireland was known as” the sick man of Europe” (Observer 217/218, 1999). After the economic boom Ireland experienced at the end of the 20th century, this is no longer a nickname that fits.
The reasons for this “boom” are many. One of the most important reasons[1] is the increase in foreign investments in Ireland – particularly from the United States.
Ireland has become a country where business is very profitable. This is due to the fact that the Irish government decided to introduce cutbacks in public spending and in that way restore the nation’s finances. Once this was in place the interest rate fell and tax cuts were introduced. When the price for borrowing money fell the consumption increased and business investments followed.
Also Ireland has developed health care and education considerably during the last part of the 20th century.
So Ireland is no longer a country you flee. On the contrary the green island has become attractive – not only to the Irish themselves, but also to people from other countries.
Immigration, emigration and net-migration in Ireland, 1987-2003[2]
In 1996 Ireland reached its migration “turning point”. It now had more immigrants than emigrants. Irish emigration in the 20th century peaked in 1989 and has been on the decline ever since.
Immigration
So Ireland has changed from being a land of emigrants to being a land of immigrants. Because of the low unemployment rate, but also because of an excellent health care and free education Ireland has become interesting to people seeking asylum, people from other EU countries and even Irishmen who have emigrated.
Ireland’s labour immigration policies are among the most liberal in Europe, and until 2004 parents to children born in Ireland had an automatic right to permanent residence. In 2004 the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern conveyed that the system was misused, since 60% of the female asylum seekers were pregnant when they applied for asylum.
Later the same year a Supreme Court judgement removed the right to permanent residency for parents of children born in Ireland. In January 2005 a new Nationality and Citizenship Act came into effect. Children born after first of January 2005 will get the same citizenship as their parents.
People seeking asylum come from Nigeria, Romania, Moldova, Zimbabwe, Ukraine and Poland. It is quite a paradox that many of these people have the same integration troubles as similar people in Denmark. Henry McDonald, an Ireland Correspondent at The Guardian[3], wrote an article about how children from non-Irish ethnic backgrounds were not allowed into the local Catholic schools – simply because they were not Catholics. Since 90% of the schools in Ireland are Catholic schools it can be very difficult for people of other beliefs to become integrated into the community.
The Irish government believed that the need for migrant workers would fall dramatically after the EU enlargement in 2004. (10 countries) They decided to grant access to the Irish labour market to all members of the EU. This meant that Ireland could get all the labour it needed from the EU and many people from other member countries of the EU move to Ireland today.
The return of the Irish
During the last 10 – 15 years many Irish emigrants, who left their home country to seek happiness and fortune abroad, have returned to Ireland.
Actually nearly half of the immigrants that rush into Ireland these years are Irish. They may have been born in another country, but by Irish parents and therefore they are considered Irish.
Now you can easily find a job with a good salary and promotion possibilities. The housing situation and the general economy of the country are developing at great speed. Education has become free. There is no longer any need or reason for not living in your home country.
It is obvious that emigrants have maintained a longing to return to their families and their home country and the present situation in Ireland offers many emigrants the possibility to return.
Emigration
With an increase of immigration, the number of immigrants has exceeded the number of emigrants, but still today a large number of people are leaving Ireland. From a population of 6 million people roughly 200,000 emigrate every year. In comparison with other European countries it is a relatively large number.
The reason for leaving varies, but a common denominator is meeting personal demands. A large part of the emigrants leave:
· To improve their possibilities of further education
· To advance their careers
· To find better jobs with possibilities of promotion
· To obtain better salaries
A majority of the Irish emigrating within recent years are fairly well-educated specialists attracted by low cost of living or seeking new challenges within the labour market. The largest group has found employment within technical or computer-related industries.
To a minority the social, political and cultural policy in Ireland is the reason for their decision on emigrating. The situation in Northern Ireland has been the crucial factor to a small group of emigrants.
To a relatively large group, the main reason for leaving is simply the desire of exploring the world, looking for adventures.
Present emigrants are spread around the world, but they have a large preference for English-speaking countries of which the USA is the favourite.
Sources: The Irish Mind Abroad
www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory
www.guarian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/25/school
[1] According to the OECD (organization of industrial countries that works for the expansion of trade and economic growth)
[2] Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO); Dublin
[3] British newspaper
