Main Political Parties Turn Deaf Ear to Immigrants
15 Feb 2011
MAIN POLITICAL PATIES TURN DEAF EAR TO IMMIGRANTS
The Irish Times - Monday, February 14, 2011
OPINION : Indifference towards 10 per cent of the population is shocking, writes PRIYA RAJASEKAR
THE PARTY campaign plans are out and I have a bad, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. After running a keyword search on "immigrant" and "immigration", I am staring at a stunning nothingness!
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael blueprints are returning empty fields and while Labour has something, the two documents thrown up by the "policy search centre" date back to 2006 and 2000 respectively. I am stumped at the indifference towards 10 per cent of the population, many of whom, me included, will be part of the electorate for the first time this election............
But in the end, vote we must. And this time each one of us counts. Even us immigrants, conspicuous by our absence from Ireland's future plans, as seen through the eyes of the main political parties. And vote we will, in return for inclusion, equality, positive change and leadership, with or without extempore skills.