Press Releases29 Oct 02

CORK CIVIC FORUM CALLS FOR RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY AND ACTION AGAINST RACISM

The new Millennium Hall of Cork City Hall was crowded on Friday February 22 2002 to witness the launch of Cork - One city, Many Communities - a new civic forum of political, religious and community representatives who support and seek a renewed Cork with its vibrant and diverse society, respect for the cultures of others, and strong and effective action to combat racism.

On the invitation of Mr Pat Cox MEP, President of the European Parliament, Bishop Paul Colton acted as independent Chairperson of the proceedings and speakers included The Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom O Driscoll, Pat Cox MEP, Fode Sylla MEP, Chairman of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Anti- Racism and Equal Opportunity and President of the International Federation of SOS Racism, Sean Love of Amnesty International (Irish Section), Chrissie O Sullivan of the Traveller Visibility Group, Philip Watt of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism and Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Cloyne. Representatives from community groups, schools, An Garda Siochana,and the immigrant community also attended. 

Mr Pat Cox said that Irish people were being deliberately misled into thinking they were in competition with asylum seekers for social welfare payments, housing or medical services whereas statistics proved otherwise. He proved this by quoting a list of relevant figures such as, of the 52 million Euro spent last year on supplementary payments by the Southern Health Board, just 7 per cent of this was allocated to asylum seekers and 0.27 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product is spent on providing for asylum seekers.

He also reminded the audience that poverty, homelessness and social-exclusion were problems in Ireland before the arrival of asylum seekers and so,

"People shouldn't use or misuse one group of marginalised people as a scapegoat for another group."

Other speakers called for leadership, for dignity for the marginalised, effective action against the racism that exists in Ireland and it was stressed that much of this action must start with our selves. Change creates misunderstanding, yet we must recognise change and deal with it. To enable us to move forward diversity should be celebrated.

When Bishop Colton opened the discussions to speakers from the floor, political representatives such as Minister Dan Wallace, Councillor John Minihan and Councillor Kathleen Lynch gave wholehearted support to the new forum. Many others, both Corkonians and asylum seekers, shared some very personal experiences and opinions with us. The loudest and most sustained applause was given to the call to allow asylum seekers the right to work.

Prior to closing, the meeting unanimously adopted a declaration of values and a set of seven recommendations. These will be forwarded to Government members, hopefully resulting in immediate action. 

The declaration of values included the paragraph:

"People have a right to have their cultural and ethnic identities valued and supported. They should be able to live free from explicit or implicit attitudes or acts of rejection and discrimination. This is not charity or tolerance, but a human right, enshrined in our fundamental social values and guaranteed by domestic and international law."

Two of the recommendations were:

"We call upon those with leadership roles in Irish public life to speak out against racism in all its forms."

and,

"We call on the government to establish an effectively resourced city-wide campaign in Cork to promote integration and counteract racism. Such a programme, which can build upon initiatives already under way, should include

1. The appointment of a Corporation official with specific responsibility for policy coordination and liaison with community organisations and other relevant groups
2. The establishment of an advisory citywide body representing all those working in the field, including immigrants themselves
3. The re-sourcing of those organisations already working to integrate new communities and ethnic minorities in Cork and to fight racism in the city
4. A programme of activities based on the identification and transfer of best practice models from other European municipalities
5. On-going research and policy initiatives in the field."

This Cork forum will be the first of many; that was clearly the wish of all present.

For further details contact:

NASC
Irish Immigrant Support Centre
Cork

Tel: 021 4317411