Residents Against Racism demo in Dublin: 2006
The downturn in the Irish economy has resulted in job losses in many different sectors. Ireland has been harder hit than other euro countries. The forecast suggests that the Irish economy will shrink by 6.5% this year. Unemployment has leaped to 11.4%.
During the heyday of the "Celtic Tiger" tens of thousands of migrants made the move to Ireland in search of jobs and fresh opportunities. The influx of newcomers was significant - they make up roughly 18% of the Irish population.
Now that times have changed on the economic front, attitudes have also been changing. There has been an increase in discrimination directed at non-Irish nationals.
Xenophobia in Ireland hasn't yet taken on a political form. For example there is no equivalent of the British National party (BNP) playing up the immigration threat. Nonetheless there is evidence that serious problems exist.
During the heyday of the "Celtic Tiger" tens of thousands of migrants made the move to Ireland in search of jobs and fresh opportunities. The influx of newcomers was significant - they make up roughly 18% of the Irish population.
Now that times have changed on the economic front, attitudes have also been changing. There has been an increase in discrimination directed at non-Irish nationals.
Xenophobia in Ireland hasn't yet taken on a political form. For example there is no equivalent of the British National party (BNP) playing up the immigration threat. Nonetheless there is evidence that serious problems exist.
The fight against discrimination has been taken up by Patrick Macphoso, a former ANC organizer from South Africa's Northern Cape. Macphoso moved to Ireland in 2001 and worked in the security industry. More recently he has been working as a training consultant.
He has put himself forward as a candidate for Rotunda ward in Dublin - an area that has more than 50% non-Irish nationals. Mr Macphoso hopes to take up the fight against racial discrimination as a Dublin city councillor.
It's kind of ironical that a former fighter against apartheid should be taking up the struggle in a country that knows all about being treated as a second class citizen. The long and troubled relationship with Britain has been a rocky one and Irish migrant workers in England never had it easy. But the unfortunate fact is that discrimination has made it challenging for those immigrants seeking a new life in Ireland and the expectation of equal treatment.
When the economy began to slow down in 2008 resulting in a slump in the construction industry, a percentage of migrants headed back home. Some said they had concerns about a backlash. The Polish community in Ireland, estimated at around 230,000, has experienced the largest exodus of workers. Many of these workers complained about discrimination in the workplace.
Discrimination isn't always workplace related. Not so long ago in the Dublin suburb of Balbriggan approximately 90 kids were unable to find a place in local schools. Almost all of these children were black. The fact that most of them were Irish-born and thus citizens, appeared to make little difference to the problems their families had in placing them.
Violent incidents have occurred that raise questions about the targeting of foreigners. A Pole named Kazik Anhalt was cut up in a knife attack in Clondalkin and two other Poles, Pawel Kalite and Marius Szwajkos, were killed in a screwdriver attack. The police claim there was no anti-foreigner bias in the attack, but not everyone buys this.
A Guardian article relates the story of a woman named Mutale who comes from Zambia. While in the Dublin city center on Henry Street she noticed a woman carrying a bag with a purse hanging out of it. When Mutale alerted the woman, instead of getting a "thank you" she was accosted with "Mind your business, you black bitch, and fuck off back to your own country."
Patrick Macphoso says that racial abuse is widespread in Ireland. He offered the example of "Irish only" internet ads and points out that there are no laws to ban that type of advertising.
Macphoso:
Macphoso's concerns are backed up in a report by the Economic and Social Research Institute of Ireland. Its research shows that job applicants with Irish names are more likely to get jobs than those with non-Irish names.
Patrick Macphoso thought his activist days were behind him, but he's stepping up to the plate again - " I came over to Ireland to build a new life but I can't stand by and do nothing while some people from overseas are being treated like slaves."
Related Guardian article here.
He has put himself forward as a candidate for Rotunda ward in Dublin - an area that has more than 50% non-Irish nationals. Mr Macphoso hopes to take up the fight against racial discrimination as a Dublin city councillor.
It's kind of ironical that a former fighter against apartheid should be taking up the struggle in a country that knows all about being treated as a second class citizen. The long and troubled relationship with Britain has been a rocky one and Irish migrant workers in England never had it easy. But the unfortunate fact is that discrimination has made it challenging for those immigrants seeking a new life in Ireland and the expectation of equal treatment.
When the economy began to slow down in 2008 resulting in a slump in the construction industry, a percentage of migrants headed back home. Some said they had concerns about a backlash. The Polish community in Ireland, estimated at around 230,000, has experienced the largest exodus of workers. Many of these workers complained about discrimination in the workplace.
Discrimination isn't always workplace related. Not so long ago in the Dublin suburb of Balbriggan approximately 90 kids were unable to find a place in local schools. Almost all of these children were black. The fact that most of them were Irish-born and thus citizens, appeared to make little difference to the problems their families had in placing them.
Violent incidents have occurred that raise questions about the targeting of foreigners. A Pole named Kazik Anhalt was cut up in a knife attack in Clondalkin and two other Poles, Pawel Kalite and Marius Szwajkos, were killed in a screwdriver attack. The police claim there was no anti-foreigner bias in the attack, but not everyone buys this.
A Guardian article relates the story of a woman named Mutale who comes from Zambia. While in the Dublin city center on Henry Street she noticed a woman carrying a bag with a purse hanging out of it. When Mutale alerted the woman, instead of getting a "thank you" she was accosted with "Mind your business, you black bitch, and fuck off back to your own country."
Patrick Macphoso says that racial abuse is widespread in Ireland. He offered the example of "Irish only" internet ads and points out that there are no laws to ban that type of advertising.
Macphoso:
"Abuse is on the increase because people across the board are losing jobs. It seems that it is much harder to racially abuse someone or discriminate against them in the UK than in Ireland. This has got to change."
Macphoso's concerns are backed up in a report by the Economic and Social Research Institute of Ireland. Its research shows that job applicants with Irish names are more likely to get jobs than those with non-Irish names.
Patrick Macphoso thought his activist days were behind him, but he's stepping up to the plate again - " I came over to Ireland to build a new life but I can't stand by and do nothing while some people from overseas are being treated like slaves."
Related Guardian article here.
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