promoting migrant involvement in politics in ireland report 2013.pdf · promoting migrant...

Migrant Project

Opening Power to DiversityPromoting migrant

involvement in politics in Ireland

First report June 2013

www.livinginireland.ieCrosscare Migrant Project

1 Cathedral Street, Dublin 1

Telephone + 353 1 8732844 Fax + 353 1 8727003Email [email protected] www.migrantproject.ie

Design Nathan Somers Design

ISBN 978-0-9528445-2-5

© Copyright 2013. Crosscare. All rights reserved

ContentsAcknowledgements 2

Foreword 3

Introduction 4

Crosscare’srole 6

Migrantparticipantdiaryexcerpts 8

Impactsofthescheme 30

Wheretonext? 31

Conclusion 32

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IwouldliketoacknowledgethosewhoplayedakeypartingettingtheOpeningPowertoDiversity(OPD)schemestarted,inparticularMaureenO’SullivanTD,MicheálMartinTD,TomCurranofFineGael,KirsiHanafinofLabour,theCeannComhairleSeánBarrettTD,MinisterofStateJoeCostelloTD,theSuperintendentoftheHousesoftheOireachtasandthethenJointAdministrationCommitteeoftheHousesoftheOireachtas.

ThecontributionofFidèleMutwarasibofromtheImmigrantCouncilofIrelandwasparticularlyvaluableattheconceptdevelopmentstage.

TheOPDschemewasmadepossiblebythefollowingstaffandvolunteersofCrosscareMigrantProject:JoeO’Brien,HilaryBizumuremyi,SarahOwen,SophieO’Brien,RichardKingandNicolaYau,alongwiththesupportoftheEuropeanIntegrationFund,theOfficeforthePromotionofMigrantIntegration(OPMI)andPobal.

Aparticularthankstoalltheparliamentariansandmigrants/newIrishwhoparticipateddirectlyinthefirstroundsofthescheme,wehopemanymorewillfollowandlearnfromyourexample.

ConorHickey,Director Crosscare

June 2013

Acknowledgements

OpeningPowertoDiversity

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IwelcometheOpeningPowertoDiversitymeasurewhichisaninnovativewaytoinvolvemigrantstoourcountryinitspoliticallife.

Thepoliticalsystemaffectseveryoneand,ifdemocracyistobemeaningful,weneedasmuchengagementaspossiblebypeoplewithpolitics.Weneedasmanypeopleaspossible,fromallwalksoflife,influencingthedecisionmakingprocess.

Ofcourse,immigrantsmayfacemorebarrierstoparticipationthanmanyothers.Naturallyenough,unlessanduntilonebecomesanIrishcitizen,therearerestrictionsonthefranchiseandoneligibilityforoffice.Moreover,theimmigrantiscomingtotermswithlivinginnewsurroundingsandmaytaketimetolearnaboutandunderstandtheIrishGovernmentalandpoliticalsystem.

IwelcometheOpeningPowertoDiversityinitiativeasawaytohelpdealwiththis.WiththecooperationoftheauthoritiesinLeinsterHouseandtheTDs,themeasuregivesimmigrantparticipantsaninsidelookatourpoliticalsystematalevelwhichonlyasmallminorityofthepublicwilleverexperience.

TheparticipatinginternscanobserveandbepartofallaspectsofaTD’sworkand,inthisway,getagoodinsightoverasixmonthperiodintohowourpoliticalsystemworksinpractice.Fromtheevidencesofar,theparticipantsonbothsides–theimmigrantsandtheTDs–havebenefittedgreatlyfromtakingpartintheproject.

IwouldliketocommendCrosscarefordevelopingthisprojectandofferitmysupport.Clearlyalotofcarefulpreparationandthoughthasgoneintoit,andithasreceivedfundingsupportfromtheDepartmentofJusticeandEquality.

Inconclusion,Iwanttowishtheprojectcontinuedsuccessandhopethatalltheparticipantswillbenefitindividuallyaswellasactingasabridgetotheirwidercommunities.

EndaKennyT.D.Taoiseach

Foreword

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1 See Section 5.3 Voting and Elected Representatives at this link http://www.integrationcentre.ie/getattachment/14cacd49-2ab9-4a23-b869-80b52bc6cac6/Annual-Monitoring-Report-on-Integration-2011.aspx

2 A third country national is defined as any person who is not a citizen of the EU within the meaning of Article 17(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Introduction

The2011Censusrevealedthat12%ofthepopulationofIrelandwerenotIrishcitizens.In2002thisratewas5.8%.SointhespaceoflessthantenyearsIreland’snon-Irishpopulationdoubled.ThishasbeenaprofoundandlonglastingchangeinIrishsocietyandourpublicinstitutionsarestillstrugglingtoadapttothechallengeandopportunitythatincreaseddiversityhasbroughttoIreland.Themostimportantandinfluentialofalltheseinstitutionsisourpoliticalsystem.TheESRI-IntegrationCentreAnnualMonitoringReport2011detailssomeindicatorsinrelationtomigrantparticipationinrecentelections1.Whilestillatarelativelyearlystageinourimmigrationstory,earlyindicationsofmigrantinvolvementinpoliticsshowaneedforsignificantimprovement.

In2004atEuropeanlevel,theEUadoptedCommonBasicPrinciples(CBPs)toassistMemberStateswiththedevelopmentofmigrantintegrationpolicy.Tofurtherunderpineffortsintheareaofintegration,theEUco-financedanumberofpilotandpreparatoryactionsinthefieldofintegrationfortheperiod2003-2006.

Inlightofthisinitiative,theEUdecidedtoprovideMemberStateswithspecificsupporttodevelopandimplementintegrationpolicieswhichenablethird-countrynationalsofdifferentcultural,religious,linguisticandethnicbackgroundstofulfiltheirconditionsofresidenceandtofacilitatetheirintegrationintosociety2.Tothisend,theEuropeanIntegrationFund(EIF)wasestablishedfortheperiod2007to2013.TheEIFisoneoffourrelatedfunds,theothersbeingtheEuropeanRefugeeFund,theEuropeanReturnsFundandtheEuropeanBordersFund.

InIreland,theOPMIistheresponsibleauthorityfortheadministrationoftheEIFandtheEuropeanRefugeeFund.Pobalisdesignatedasthedelegatedauthorityin

theadministrationofthesefunds.Pobalisanot-for-profitcompanywithcharitablestatusthatmanagesprogrammesonbehalfoftheIrishGovernmentandtheEU.

In2010CrosscareMigrantProjectappliedforfundingfromtheEIFtosupportanumberofmigrantintegration-focussedprojects.Oneoftheseprojectswasaimedatpromotingmigrantengagementin,andunderstandingoftheStatepolicy-makingprocesswhileatthesametimemakingCrosscareMigrantProject’spolicyworkmoreinclusiveofserviceusers.ThisisoneofthespecificprioritiesidentifiedbytheEuropeanCommissionfortheEIF.Thekeyarenaintermsofpolicymakingisthepoliticalsystem.Sowedecidedtoexplorewaystoup-skillandexposemigrantstothewaysinwhichthepoliticalsystemworks.

Therehasbeensomesignificantactivitytopromotemigrantparticipationinpolitics,forexample:

• Priortothe2009LocalElectionstheOfficeoftheMinisterforIntegrationfundedinitiativesonvoterawarenessamongmigrantswhichwererunbyDublinCity,Fingal,DunLaoghaireandRathdownandCorkCountyCouncils

• The2009VoterEducationCampaignrunbytheNewCommunitiesPartnershipandtheAfricaCentre

• The2010ImmigrantCouncilofIreland‘CountUsIn’campaignpriortotheGeneralElectionin2011

• TheIntegrationCentre’s2012TDattitudinalsurveyandtheirmorerecent‘DivPol’workwithpoliticalpartiesinIreland

DrawingonrecommendationsfromareportbytheAfricaSolidarityCentrein2003calledPositivePoliticsandtheexampleofanMPShadowingSchemeintheUK,wedecidedtodevelopauniqueandinnovativescheme


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wherebymigrantscouldgetaninsider’sexperienceofthepoliticalsystem.

InJanuary2012afterclosetoayearofpreparation,CrosscareMigrantProjectlaunchedaground-breakinginitiativeformigrantpoliticalintegration.NowinitsthirdroundtheOPDschemeseesmigrantsplacedwithTDsorSenatorsforasixmonthplacement.TheOPDschemehasthreemainaims:

1 ToprovideindividualmigrantswithauniquelearningexperienceandinsightintotheIrishpoliticalsystem

2 Tohelpgenerategreaterunderstandingofandparticipationinthepoliticalsystemamongmigrantcommunities

3 Thepromotionofdiversityamongpoliticians,thepoliticalestablishmentandsocietyatlarge

ThefirstroundoftheschemewasapprovedbytheOPMIandPobalasa‘shadowingscheme’.However,overthecourseoftheschemethisevolvedintoamoreparticipatoryrole,basedonfeedbackandexpectationsofthemigrantparticipantsandtheTDsandSenators.Itwasfeltthataninteractivelearningexperiencewouldbemorebeneficial.Theterm‘shadow’whilestemmingfromtheMPShadowingSchemeinWestminsterwasseenasconfusingandapoordescriptorofwhattheroleactuallywas.

ThisreportisalookbackatthefirsttworoundsoftheOPDschemewhichranbetweenJanuary2012andtheendofMarch2013andmoreparticularlytheexperiencesofthemigrants/newIrishthatparticipated.Bypublishingandpromotingthediaryexcerptsfromthemigrantparticipantsinthisreportwealsohopetoforwardaimstwoandthreeoftheschemeasoutlinedabove.

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Crosscare’s role

ThefollowingisanoutlineofthespecificrolesofCrosscareMigrantProjectinstartingandrunningtheOPDscheme,includingtheinitialgroundwork.

The ‘groundwork’

Whileconceptdevelopmentandresearchwereon-goingfromlate2010toearly2011,effortsatinitiatingtheOPDschemestartedinearnestfollowingtheGeneralElectionofFebruary2011.

TDswereapproachedtoseeiftheywouldbeinterestedinparticipatinginorsupportingaschemeformigrantsandnewIrishcitizens.Therefollowedaperiodofintensivework,whichinvolvedmeetingwithanddiscussingtheproposalwithTDsandotherrelevantstakeholders.ItwasclearfromthesemeetingsthattherewereanumberofTDsinterestedinsupportingand/orparticipatinginthescheme.Crucially,supportwasalsoprovidedbytheCeannComhairlewhichgavetheproposalsomesignificantofficialimpetus.

Therecruitmentprocessforthemigrantsstartedinparalleltothesemeetings.MeetingswerealsoheldwithsomepartyGeneralSecretariesandpartyleaderstofurthergalvaniseandbuildsupportfortheproposal.WhiletherewereinitialhopesthattheschememighthavestartedinSeptember2011,itbecameclearthattheproposalwouldhavetobesanctionedbythethenJointAdministrationCommitteeoftheHousesoftheOireachtas.InNovember2011theJointAdministrationCommitteeapprovedtheCrosscareMigrantProjectproposalandallocatedfourplacesformigrantparticipants.

On-going roles

Migrant participant recruitment

CrosscareMigrantProjectputsoutapubliccallfor

interestedmigrants/newIrishwhowishtoparticipateinthescheme.Weputsignificantemphasisonthemigrantparticipantrecruitmentphaseaswefeelthatattheearlystagesoftheschemeitisparticularlyimportantthatgoodfirstimpressionsaremade.Alevelofenthusiasmforpoliticsand/orexperienceofthepoliticalsystematanylevelareimportantrecruitmentcriteriaalongwithstrongcommunicationskills.Aftertherecruitmentprocessshortlistedcandidateswiththenecessaryskillsandqualitiesareplacedonapanel.

TD recruitment

BuildingTDandSenatorinterestandparticipationintheschemeisanon-goingprocess.ThisareaofworknaturallyprovedmostdifficultbeforetheschemegottheapprovaloftheHousesoftheOireachtas.AtthetimeitwasonlyaconceptandCrosscareMigrantProjectwasunprovenintermsofbeingabletomanagesuchascheme.TherearetwoothersimilarschemesinLeinsterHousethatprovideinternstoTDsandSenators.Additionally,wedecidedonthemoredifficultrouteofinsistingonadifferentsetofparliamentariansforeachroundtoensurethebroadestpossibleinvolvementinthescheme.

Matching

CrosscareMigrantProjectapproachesinterestedTDsorSenatorswithdetailsofthepeoplewehaveplacedontheaforementionedpanel.CrosscareMigrantProjectwillfacilitateafirstmeeting/interviewbetweenthemigrantparticipantandTDorSenatorand/orprovidemoredetailonthepanelmembers.Asmuchasispossible,weaimtospreadtheplacementsacrossavarietyofpoliticalpartiesorindependents.

Support

OncetheTDorSenatorandthemigrantparticipantagreetoworktogetherCrosscareMigrantProjectprovidesa


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documenttobothpartiesthatdetailstheexpectationsandobligationsontheTDorSenator,themigrantparticipantandCrosscareMigrantProject.ThroughoutthesixmonthplacementwestayinregularcontactwithbothmigrantandTD/Senatorparticipants,toensurethatbothpartiesarehappywithhowtheplacementisgoing.CrosscareMigrantProjectprovidesanorientationsession.TheauthoritiesinLeinsterHouseprocesspasscardsfornewparticipants,alongwithaseparateorientationsessionandtouraroundLeinsterHouse.CrosscareMigrantProjectconductsmid-termandendoftermreviewswithbothmigrantandTD/Senatorparticipants–toseehowwecanimprovetheschemeandtoensurebothpartiesaregettingavaluableexperience.

Migrantparticipantskeepaweeklylearningjournaloftheirexperiences.Guidanceisprovidedonwhattoincludeinthesejournals.

Communicating the experience to the public at large

and migrant communities

TwoofthethreekeyaimsoftheOPDschemeare:

• Tohelpgenerategreaterunderstandingofandparticipationinthepoliticalsystemamongmigrantcommunities

• Thepromotionofdiversityamongpoliticians,thepoliticalestablishmentandsocietyatlarge

Bothoftheseaimsrequirepublicityofthemigrantparticipant’sexperience.Duringtheirplacementtheyareaskedtowritethreediaryarticles.ThesearticlesarepostedonourLivinginIrelandwebsite(www.livinginireland.ie)andformthebasisofotherattemptstogeneratemorepublicityforthescheme.Thefirstroundoftheschemehadlittleemphasisonpublicityasthefocuswasgettingtheschemeupandrunningandensuringthattheinitialmatcheswentwell.Thesecondroundoftheschemehas

seenasignificantincreaseinmediacoverageincludinglocalnewspapersthatarerelevanttotheTD/Senatororparticipant’slocalityandsomenationalradiocoverage.Onlinenewsletterswerealsocreatedandcirculatedduringthesecondroundofthescheme.

How the scheme has developed

Theschemehasdevelopedsignificantlyinthespaceofthefifteenmonthsthatithasbeenrunning.AfterthefirstroundthatranbetweenJanuaryandJune2012,CrosscareMigrantProjectreportedbacktotheJointAdministrationCommitteeoftheHousesoftheOireachtasandrequestedanadditionaltwoplacesforthescheme.Thereportwhichcontainedstatementsfromallparticipantswaswellreceivedandourrequestwasgrantedbringingtheallocationtosixplaces.

WiththeexperienceofmanagingoneroundofmatchesCrosscare’ssupportcontributiontotherunningoftheschemeimprovedsignificantlyinthesecondroundwhichranfromSeptember2012toMarch2013.Orientationwasmoreelaborateaswehadamuchclearerideaofwhatthemigrantparticipantscouldexpect.ContactwiththemandwiththeTD’s/Senator’sofficewasmoreregularandwrittenguidancewasprovidedonkeepingaweeklyjournal.Deadlinedatesforreviewformsanddiaryarticleswerealsoprovidedatorientationforthesecondround.

Publicityontheschemeincreasedsignificantlywiththesecondround–mediacoveragecanbeseenatwww.livinginireland.ie

KnowledgeoftheschemeamongTDs/SenatorsinLeinsterHousealsoincreasedsignificantlywhichhasmeantthattherecruitmentofTD/Senatorparticipantshasinvolvedlesstimeandresourcesalthoughitstillinvolvessignificanteffort.

TheOPDschemehasthreemainaims:




ThelongtermimpactsoftheOPDschemecouldbeverysignificantandcanonlybemeasuredovertime.Suchimpactscanbedifficulttomeasureandrequirefurtherwork.Howevertherehavebeensomeimmediateandshorttermimpacts.

Intermsofthefirstaimoftheschemefeedbackwassoughtfromallinternsandparliamentariansintermsoftheirdirectexperienceofparticipatinginthescheme.Withoutexceptionthefeedbackwaspositive.Asthediaryexcerptsshow,allmigrantparticipantstodatehavefoundittobeaveryvaluableexperience.Therearenumerouscommentsinthediariesaboutthevalueoftheschemeasalearningexperienceandalsoreferencestochangedattitudesinrelationtopolitics–alongwithaclearlystatedgreaterinterestinpolitics.Itisimportantalsotonoteandmeasurethefeedbackoftheparliamentarianswhichhasalsobeenpositivewithoutexception:

Derek Keating TD

“The Opening Power to Diversity scheme is an excellent scheme that has over time, the potential to make a significant and positive impact not only on the lives of individual migrants and migrant communities but also on social policy in Ireland by influencing political thinking and debate…The capacity to promote migrant integration is considerable. Crosscare has managed to convince us of

the benefits and has managed the complexity of placing an intern in a most professional manner. In particular by placing a well motivated, highly skilled and willing to learn candidate with us.”

Senator Averil Power

“The programme not only benefits the intern, it also gives the Senator or TD an opportunity to improve their understanding of the culture and perspectives of the migrant community…I had a very positive experience with the candidate I received from the OPD scheme. She worked in the office alongside my assistant and quickly became an invaluable member of our team. She was friendly and adaptable and her high level of skills and ability to perform a wide range of tasks was of great benefit.”

ThesecondandthirdmainaimsoftheOPDschemearelonger-termaimsandtheirimpactismoredifficulttoassessatthisearlystage.Howeverintermsofgeneratingunderstandingandparticipation(barthedirectparticipants)therewasasignificantincreaseinthemediacoverageoftheschemeinthesecondround.Duringthefirstroundthefocuswasonthemoreimmediatepriorityofputtinginplacethesupportsandstructurestoensurethematchesweregoingwellforbothparties.Thediariesarethemaintoolforbringingtheparticipant’sexperiencetothewiderpublicandtherewasconsiderabledistributionanduseoftheseduringthesecondround.Moredetailscanbeviewedatwww.livinginireland.ie.Migrantparticipantswerealsoaskedabouthowmanyfamilymembersorfriendstheyhadtoldaboutthescheme–thistotalledanimpressive1,400peoplemuchofwhichwascreditedtosocialmediafriends.

Thereisalsosomeevidenceofimpactsonthethirdaimofpromotingdiversityinpoliticsandsocietyatlarge.ApartfromthoseTDsandSenatorsthatparticipateddirectly,

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Impacts of the scheme

ROUND 3

OkezieEmuaga:NoelCoonanFG

PeterOzonyia:AnnePhelanLab

SmretKahsai:Mattie

McGrathInd

PetrosOgbazghi:S

enatorJimWalshFF

TonyeBenson-Olatunde:RobertTroyFF

GladysOtonoAtsenokhai:DavidStantonFG

ROUND 2EkowAgyemanPrempeh:MichaelMoynihanFF

MandyLau:ÉamonÓCuívFFAlfredM’Sichili:AndrewDoyleFG

AdelitaMonteiro:Luke‘Ming’FlanaganInd

VoltaireBicomong:AodhánÓRíordáinLab

Absentfromphoto-MariamSalami:AnneFerrisLab

ROUND

3

ROUND 2


itwasclearfromCrosscare’sengagementwiththeauthoritiesinLeinsterHouseandotherTDsandSenatorsthatsupportforthefundamentalconceptattheheartoftheOPDscheme(theimportanceofmigrantinvolvementinpolitics)hasgrownsincethebeginningsofthescheme.

MigrantparticipantsalsoagreedtogetinvolvedinmeetingsoftheCrosscareMigrantProjectPolicyWorkingGroup.TheaimofthePolicyWorkingGroupistobetterinformandguidethedirectionandcontentofourpolicyworkonimmigrationandintegrationissues.ItisenvisagedthatsuchguidancewillcontinuetoenhanceCrosscareMigrantProject’spolicywork.

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MigrantparticipantdiaryexcerptsInwritingtheirdiaries,migrantparticipantswereaskedtorecordtheirexperiencesandtoprovidesomereflectionontheseexperiences.Therewasminimaleditingofthediaries.ThefollowingarecondensedversionsofthediaryarticlespostedontheLivinginIrelandwebsite.

ROUND 3

OkezieEmuaga:NoelCoonanFG

PeterOzonyia:AnnePhelanLab

SmretKahsai:Mattie

McGrathInd

PetrosOgbazghi:S

enatorJimWalshFF

TonyeBenson-Olatunde:RobertTroyFF

GladysOtonoAtsenokhai:DavidStantonFG

ROUND 1

EvansShirihuru:MaureenO’SullivanInd

AdakuEzeudo:DerekKeatingFG

EricaBirch-Abban:AverilPowerFF

AmyYin-Zhang:JoeCostelloLab

ROUND 1

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Chairperson’s foreword and acknowledgements

Adaku’s Diary MyplacementwithDerekKeatingFineGaelTDforDublinMid-Westbeganonthe27thofFebruary2012,andIwaskeentogetinvolvedfromtheverystart.AftermeetingParliamentaryAssistantTommy,IwasimmediatelyimmersedinaCommitteemeetingonHealthandChildrenatLeinsterHouse2000,ofwhichDerekKeatingisamember.FollowingashorttourofLeinsterHouse,andbeingintroducedtowhatfeltliketheentirestaffoftheHouse,ImetDerek’ssecretaryLinda.BothsheandTommywerewarmandeasytotalkto;Tommyhadmelaughingoutloudathisjokesfromthestart.StruckathowquicklyIfeltatease,Iwasmorethanhappytoassistwithsomeconstituencywork.ByhandlingqueriesfrommembersofDerek’sDublinMid-Westconstituency,IquicklycametoappreciatethevarietyofissuesaddressedbyaTD.BythetimeImetawarmandwelcomingDerekthatafternoonIhadrenewedrespectfortheworkcarriedoutbyhisoffice.FarfromwhatsomepeoplemightthinkaboutTDsbeingremovedfrommattersatlocallevel,theconstituencyisverymuchatthecentreofaTD’swork.

Asidefromconstituencywork,IhavealsobrieflyattendedtheLeadersQuestionsattheDáil,wheremembersoftheoppositionhavetheopportunitytoaddressquestionstotheTaoiseach.Myinitialimpressionwasoneofsurprise,asI was not expecting the debates to be so animated.

IhavealsohadthechancetobeinvolvedinabirthdaysurpriseforSenatorMartinMcAleese,whichwasaperfectwaytonetworkandmeetpeoplefromassortedlevelsofGovernment.Inmybriefexperience,Ihavecometochallengemypreconceptionsoftheworldofpoliticsbyexpandingmyknowledgeandunderstandingofit.Irealisethatunlikethestereotypesoftenportrayed,politiciansarebothapproachableandpersonable.TheyarealotmoreinvolvedineverydayissuesthanIhadinitiallythought;ataskwhichtheyapproachwithaprofessionalattitudeandagoodsenseofhumour.Ilookforwardtowhatthenextsixmonthswillbring.

AftertheEasterbreak,IreallygottheopportunitytogainaninsightintotheinnerworkingsofaTD’soffice,asDeputyKeating’ssecretarywasoutoftheofficeduetoillness.InherabsenceIworkedwithAudrey,hertemporaryreplacement,tocoveralltheback-officeadministration.IncludedinthesedutieswasthetaskofmanagingthehugevolumeofemailsreceivedonadailybasisonbehalfofDeputyKeating.ThesecaninvolveanythingfromarrangingmeetingsanddealingwithLocalAuthorities,toadvisingconstituentsonsocialwelfareentitlementsandliaisingwithcommunitywelfareofficers.Ihavecometounderstandtheimportanceofdealingwitheveryqueryonanindividualbasis.Dedicatingtimetoensurethateachisdealtwithinaprofessionalandsensitivemannerisparamountaspeopleexpectthepoliticiantheyvotedintoofficeto

Adaku emigrated from Nigeria in 2000 and now lives in Mulhuddart with

her three children. After a number of years of working in the banking

and corporate sectors, she recently completed a Masters in Development

Studies at Kimmage Development Studies Centre. Adaku acts as a group

coordinator with ‘Women’s Space’, a monthly networking platform for

migrant women organised by New Communities Partnership. As a newly

naturalised Irish citizen, this scheme represented for Adaku a unique

opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the inner workings of Irish

Politics while promoting the social inclusion of new Irish citizens.

Name: Adaku Ezeudo

Placed with: Dere k Keating TD

Date: February to July 2012


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respondtoandsolvetheirproblemquickly.Developing

a rapport with the constituents has been one of the

most rewarding parts of my experience to date.Someofthemhaveevenbegunaskingformebyname,whichisarealcomplimentanddemonstratestomethatIhavegainedtheirconfidenceandgratitude.

WorkinginLeinsterHousehasarealfeelgoodfactoraboutit-justwalkinginthroughthegatesandflashingmygatepassmakesmefeellikeaVIP,nottomentionthesensationIgetbywalkingthroughthesamecorridorsasTDs,SenatorsandeventheTaoiseach.WhenImentionedtoTommy,DeputyKeating’sParliamentaryAdvisor,thatmymotherwasvisitingmefromNigeria,hesuggestedthatIgiveheratourofLeinsterHouse.Sheisdelightedandveryexcitedattheprospectofthis.Speakingtomyfriendsandfamily,thereactionsIgetwhenImentionwhatIamdoingaremostlyofamazementandcuriosity.Tomykids,Iamnow‘cool’asIgettoseetheTaoiseachinpersonratherthanonTV!IthasalsosurprisedmetolearnthatsomeofmyfemalemigrantfriendshaveneverheardofLeinsterHouse,andIhavetakenituponmyselftoeducatethemonIrishpolitics.

Inretrospect,IcanconfirmthatmyinternshipatLeinsterHousewasarewardingexperienceandprovidedmewithsomenewperspectivesthatIwouldnothaveordinarilycomeacrossasanoutsider.

Firstly,havingworkedcloselywithDerekKeatingTD,IrealisedthathisroleasaTDwasnopieceofcake.Thelongworkinghours,thousandsofemailsinhisinbox,incessantphonecallsandseriesofmeetingsandfunctionstoattendmademerealisehowmuchworkTDsputinwhileworkingintheirconstituencyorpoliticalparty.Thiswasfarfrommyinitialmyopicviewthatpoliticianshadlotsoftimeontheirhandswithlittletodootherthanmakespeeches.Secondly,IexpandedmyknowledgeonissuesIfoundchallengingandinterestingbyresearchingtheinternetandaskinglotsofquestions.Iwasquitetakenabackathowquickly

thestaffatLeinsterHousewarmedtomeandhowhappyandpatienttheywerewhenprovidinganswersandexplanationstoquestionsIthrewatthem.Lastly,listeningtoandresolvingclients’querieswasaverymemorableandrewardingexperienceforme.Itenabledmetore-discovermyselfandmypassionforhumanity.Ihavealwayswantedtoreachout,touchlivesandputasmileonpeople’sfaces.Givingalisteningear,resolvingpressingissuesandhearingthesmilefromtheclient’svoicegavemeasenseoffulfilmentandmotivation.

MyexpectationoftheinternshipschemewasmetandIwilldefinitelyrecommendittoothermigrantswhoarethinkingoftakingpart.It is indeed an empowering and valuable

experience that should be grabbed with both hands.Itopensparticipantsuptonewexperiencesandprovidesthemwiththeopportunitytolearnmore,expandtheirhorizonsandnetwork.

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Adelita’s DiaryUptoaweekbeforethestartoftheOPDschemeinternshipIwasnotsureifIwouldbeabletodoit.Ireallywantedto,butfamilyresponsibilitiesmademedoubtifthiswastherightthingtodo.MybabyLeelawasfourmonthsandIhaddecidedtobreastfeedinordertogiveherthebeststart…Thankfully,bothCrosscareMigrantProjectandmyallocatedTDwereverysupportiveandIfeltmoreconfidentthatIwouldfindasolution,withouthavingtoneglectmybaby.

IhavebeenworkingwithDeputyLukeMingFlanaganandhisParliamentaryAssistantPatFitzpatrickandIhavelearnedsomuchinthelastfourweeks. I have realised,

just as I saw in other intern articles, that politics is not

as ‘scary’ and complicated as we might think. It is

right there and in fact, very accessible.Icouldseeanyissuesthatwerebroughteitherbyanindividualorbyanorganisationweredealtwith.Thereisfollowup.TheleastaTDcandoistowriteaParliamentaryQuestion(PQ)…andIdiscoveredhowmuchIenjoyedthisaspectofthework.IcanseethePQscomingandgoingandIcanseesomelevelofaccountability.DuringtheseweeksIhavealsometotherTDsandlearntabitabouttheworktheyaredoing.IgettoseewhatissuestheyaremoreinvolvedwiththroughthePQstheyask.

IthasbeenapleasuretoworkwithLukeandPat.Theyhavemademefeelverywelcomeandwereveryunderstandingofthefactthatitwouldbeadifficultstartformewithsuchayoungbaby.Thismademefeelateaseintheofficeandhelpedmetogetonwiththejobathand.IthasbeenagreatstartandIamlookingforwardtowhatistocomeinthenextfivemonths.

TherewassomuchgoingoninthemonthscominguptoChristmas…BybeinginLeinsterHouseyougetfirsthandnewsontheseissues,justastheyarereleasedinthepress,andeveryoneistalkingaboutthem.Itfeelsgoodtobeawareofsomanyurgentissuesthatneedtobedealtwith;toberighttherewheretheyareboiling,wheretheyneedtoberesolved.

IenjoyedwalkingalongsideLukeintheprotest‘DisabilityAgainstCuts’.AlotofpeoplecametotakepicturesandtalktoLuke,anditwasnicetoseethatheispopularandthatalotofpeoplelikehim.InoneoftheconversationsitcameupthathegivesuphalfofhissalaryasaTD.IthoughtthatwasabraveandadmirableattitudeanditfeltrewardingtoseethatIamnotworkingwithanordinarypoliticianbutwithonewhoseemstohavestrongbeliefsandisnotafraidofstandingupforthem.

AnotherexcitingpartofmyinternshipexperienceinthelastfewmonthswaswhenIhadtheopportunitytowriteapressreleaseforLuke.Itwasjustafterthedaythatthebudget

Originally from Brazil, Adelita Monteiro now resides in Glasnevin, Dublin

with her husband and daughter. Adelita has extensive experience in the

area of Social and Community Development both in Brazil and Ireland.

She has worked as a Community Development Worker with rural families

in the countryside of Brazil, as a Manager of a house for twenty children

from the streets of São Paulo and as a youth worker in Dublin’s inner

city. Following on from her Masters in Equality Studies from UCD; Adelita

spent time lecturing on Equality Studies for the Higher Certificate in

Advocacy Studies at Sligo Institute of Technology and started working

with the Traveller community in Tipperary in 2010. She currently works

with Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group, and is also a tutor

and organiser of the Leadership Training for Traveller women.

Name: Adelita Monteiro

Placed with: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan TD

Date: September 2012 to March 2013


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wasannounced.IwasathomeandsawadiscussiononTVaboutadebateintheDáil.LukewastryingtomakehispointaboutdresscodesandthefactthattheCeannComhairlecriticizedhisdressinthemedia…Ihadactuallydonesomeresearchontheissueofdresscodesandthought:Ineedtodosomething;IneedtoputtogethersomegoodargumentstohelpLukemakehispoint…Lukelikedthepiecebutdidnotwanttoreleaseityetashewantedtofocusonotherthings,buthesaidthisissuewillcomebackandhopefullymylittleinputwillbeusefulatsomestage.

Therearechallengesforsure.Itseemssodifficulttounderstandhowthepoliticalsystemworks,butIthinkthiswillonlycomewithtimeandexperience.Asanassistanttoapolitician,IthinkitisveryimportanttobeabletogathertherightinformationthatwillbeusefulinbackinguptheTD’sviewsandtheirpositiononcertainissues.This is not

easy work and you need to be constantly reading the

papers, researching online and be very tuned in to the

news.

Duringthelastmonthsofmyinternship,therewerealotofthingsIenjoyeddoing,likewalkingwithLukeinpublicprotests,attendingbriefingsandwatchingtheDáilsessions.ButthemostinterestingexperiencesIhadwerewhenIattendedtheCommitteemeetings.

IalsohadtheexcitingtaskofattendingameetingintheEUCommissionHouserepresentingCrosscareMigrantProject.Themeetingwasaboutthecontinuation/futureoftheEuropeanIntegrationFund,whichfundsourcurrentscheme.AllprojectsthataresupportedunderthisfundmadetheirpresentationsandintheendIwasabletosaythatinorderforallofthemtobestrengthened,migrantswillneedtobemoreactiveinpolitics.Withpoliticalparticipationwecanhaveastrongerinfluenceindecision-makingandontheallocationofEUfunding.Ithinkeverybodyagreedwithme!

IhavebeenthroughanamazinglearningcurveduringthelastsixmonthsandIthinkthisisevidentsincemyfirstdiaryarticle.IamgladIgotinvolvedinthisinternship.Iexpectedittobeauniqueandvaluableexperienceanditwas.ItfeelsamazingtobeinLeinsterHouse,tomeetandchattopoliticiansduringthedayandlaterseethemonTV.It’sveryexcitingtothinkthatIwassoclosetothesepowerfulpeopleandtothelaw-makingprocess.Beingamongthemcertainlyboostedmyconfidence…It did make me

consider becoming a politician, and I never thought

about this before.Ididn’tfeelIwouldbebraveenough,butnowIdo.Italsochangedmymindaboutpoliticians,theyaredowntoearthpeople,withfamiliesandproblemsandthesameissuesasallofus.IwillcertainlysharemylearningwiththeBraziliancommunityandencourageeveryonetogetmoreinvolvedinIrishpoliticstopromotetherightsofmigrantpeoplelivinghere.ThishasbeenaninterestingandfulfillingexperienceandIthoroughlyenjoyedmysixmonthsintheDáil.

14


Alfred’s Diary Preconceptions.MygeneralperceptionsaboutIrishpoliticshadbeenshapedprimarilybythemedia,andconsequentlyIhadascepticalandcynicalviewaboutpoliticsingeneralandpoliticiansinparticular.IwasmadetounderstandthatIrishpoliticianswereincompetentandcorruptandincapableofaddressingnationalissues.InthisrespectIrishpoliticianswerenodifferentfromtheperceptionsIhadofZambianpoliticians,orofGreekorItalianpoliticians.

IwasalsomadetounderstandthatIrishpoliticianswereobsessedwithlocalorconstituencyissuesandspentnearlyalltheirtimeattendingfuneralsorarrangingapassportormedicalcardforsomebodyelse’ssweetgranny.ThepoliticalsystemIwastoldwasbroken,andthattherewasnoleadershiporpoliticalwilltochangeit.

Onmigrantissuesormigrantrights,Iwasmadetounderstandthatpoliticianswereatbestindifferenttomigrantissues(sincemigrantsdidnotconstitutealargeconstituency),oratworst,hostiletomigrantissues(believingmigrantstobelargelyparasiticonsociety,i.e.astakersratherthangivers).

Finally,IrishpoliticsIwasmadetounderstandwasamale-dominatedaffair,largelydynasticinnature,under-representedbywomen,andwithvirtuallynomigrantrepresentation.

Changed views.Iamgladtoreportthatwithonlyafewweeksintotheplacement,Ihavehadtoreassessmostoftheseperceptions.BeforeIstartedtheinternship,Iwasabitapprehensive(beingavisiblemigrant)abouthowIwouldbetreatedintheOireachtas.ButIamhappytoreportthatnothingofthesorthashappened.IntheOireachtas,Iamtreatednodifferentthananybodyelse.Iamgiventhesamerespectandcourtesyasthataccordedtoanybodyelse,andatnopointhaveIbeenmadetofeelasanimposter.

Ihavealsolearntjusthowskewedandnarrowaviewofpoliticiansandpoliticsingeneralthemediagivesus…Ihavecometorealisethatmostpoliticians,likeDeputyDoyle,andcontrarytopopularperception,dotaketheresponsibilitiesofpublicserviceveryseriouslyandmakeeveryeffortbehindthescenesandtheglareofmassmedia,totacklenationalissuesandgivethevoicelessandvulnerableindividualavoiceandanadvocatetosolvetheirproblems.This has truly been an eye opener for me.

OneofthemostcommonquestionsI’maskedwheneverItellpeoplethatIamworkingpart-timeinLeinsterHousesurprisinglyis:What interesting piece of legislation are you working on?Inthisarticle,IhavethereforechosentotalkaboutanimportantpieceoflegislationthatIbelievewillthisyearexercisebothpublicandmediaattention,namelytheproposedsaleofsomeoftheState’sforestryfirm,Coillte.Aspartofitsoversightrole,theJointOireachtas

Alfred M’Sichili moved to Ireland from Zambia ten years ago. After

finishing his Masters in Political Philosophy in University College Cork,

Alfred went on to complete a Doctorate in Global Political Economy and

Economic Justice. Familiar with policy analysis and research, Alfred

spent time with Comhlámh as a Trade Policy and Campaigns Officer where

he was involved with EU trade and investment policy and lobbying policy

makers at national and EU level on trade and economic justice issues.

Alfred has also worked as a policy intern with the European Anti-Poverty

Network (EAPN).

Name: Alfred M’Sichili

Placed with: Andrew Doyle TD



15

CommitteeonAgriculture,FoodandtheMarine,ofwhichAndrewDoyleisChairman,isholdingaseriesofpublichearingsontheproposedsaleofCoillte’sharvestingrights…IhavecometolearnthattheseCommitteehearingsareveryimportantastheyaretheonlypublichearingsontheproposedsaleofanimportantStateassetandofferthebestopportunityforstakeholderstomakeknowntheirviewsontheproposedsale.Helping out in

this process makes me feel that I am taking part in the

shaping of an important piece of legislation that will

have long-term implications for how future generations

enjoy the nation’s forests.

It’sbeennearlyamonthsinceIfinishedmyOPDplacementintheDáil,longenoughtimeIthinkforanadequatereflectionontheexperience.

First,asanenvironmenttoworkin,IfoundtheDáilquiteanexcitingplace.Italwaysexudedasenseofcentralityandimportance,andonegotthesensethatthiswaswherethefateofthenationwasdetermined.Itwasalsoeasy,withallthemainpoliticalfiguresstrollingthroughthecorridorsofLeinsterHouseforonetobaskinreflectedglory.

Second,theworkitselfwasalwaysexcitingandvaried.Inthesixmonthsofmyplacement,Iworkedonamyriadnumberofbillsandpolicyissues...Giventhevariednatureoftheissuesdealtwith,Ifoundthatitisessentialforonetohaveanaturalinterestinabroadrangeofpolicyareasandtobequickinfamiliarisingthemselveswithnewpolicyareas.

Third,thepolitics.The6monthplacementwasquiteaneyeopenerintermsofhowanindividualorgroupofindividualscanbestcampaignforpolicychanges.HavingcampaignedandadvocatedforpolicychangesinmypreviouscareerintheNGOsector,Iwasquitesurprisedathowineffectualsomeofourstrategieswere…Itcameasasurprisetomethatthemosteffectivecampaigntoolisstillthepersonalisedhand-writtenortypedlettersentfromaconcernedconstituent.

Fourth,theTD.Priortomyplacement,IknewverylittleofAndrewDoyle…Workingwithhim,andbeingabletowitnessfirsthandhisdedication,hislongandirregularworkinghours,hisgenuineconcernforthewelfareofWicklowandthenation,aswellashisloveofpublicservice,Ihavecometoseehowhemorethandeserveshisplaudits.

Fifth,thegoingawaylesson.MyprimaryintentioninapplyingtotakepartintheOPDschemewastoenhancemyunderstandingoftheIrishpoliticalsystemandtoseehownewcommunitiescouldbestimprovetheirparticipationinthenation’spolitics.IntheendofcourseIwasabletowalkawaywithfarmorethanananswertothesetwoaspirations.Ontheissueofincreasedparticipation,especiallyintermsofmorevisiblerepresentation, I discovered that new communities will

need to target increased participation at local council

level as well as in the respective parties.Inconclusion,IfoundmyparticipationintheOPDschemeveryrewardingandwouldstronglyencourageanyoneconsideringofapplyingtodosowithouthesitation.Youwillneverregretthedecision.

16


Amy’s Diary Inmyfirstweek,IwasimmediatelybroughtonboardbytheMinisterandattendedmeetingsinrelationtoIrishAid.TheMinisteralsoimmediatelyinvolvedmewithseveralNGOmeetings.Inthisregard,IattendedaHumanRightsForumwhichconsistedofseveralNGOs,variousresidentambassadors,andmanyGovernmentofficials.AtthisforumIhadabriefopportunitytoliaisewithTánaisteEamonGilmore,whichIfoundtobeveryencouraging.Ihavesubsequentlyattendedseveralmeetingsasanobserver.These meetings can be very insightful and imbue me

with a deeper understanding of the issues dealt with

by Minister Costello and the processes involved with

same.OthermeetingsIhaveattendedhavefocusedonlocalissuesontheground;forexample,IrecentlytravelledtoSligowiththeMinistertoattenda‘WhitePaperConsultationReview’whichcomprisedrepresentativesfromNGOs,academiesandlocalciviliansinordertoreceivebroaderreviewsandcomments.

IfoundtheinitiallevelofhighinvolvementtobeverymotivationalandhavegainedagreatrespectfortheworkofMinisterCostelloandhisoffices.Iammadeaverywelcomememberoftheteamandamrelishingtheworktodate.

Inthisregard,IwouldnotethatmydaytodaydutiesthusfarincludeprovidingadministrativesupporttoMinisterCostello’sprivateofficeandconstituencyoffice.Mydutiesincludegeneralofficeadministration,distributionofinwardqueries,dealingwithgeneralqueries,draftingspeechesforconstituencyrelatedmeetingsandprovidingcampaignassistance.

AsalocalTDforDublinCentral,MinisterCostelloisknowntoallhisconstituentsasJoe.MinisterCostellohasanexcellentrelationshipwithhisconstituentswhogenerallyrequesttospeakwithMinisterCostellohimselfaboutwhateverissuetheymighthave.MinisterCostelloisextremelypatientandgenerouswithhistime.Helistenstoallcomplaintsandproblemsanddoeshisupmosttoprovidepeaceofmindforhisconstituentsandhelpresolvetheirissues.Further,aslongastherearenoministerialdutiesathand,theMinisterneverfailstomissanyofhismid-weekclinics.

ItisalmostamissionimpossibletoevenattempttouseanysingularadjectiveoracombinationofafewadjectivestogethertodescribemyrecentexperiencesofworkingwithoneofthebusiestpeopleinbothHouses-MinisterofStateattheDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTradewithresponsibilityforTradeandDevelopment,JoeCostelloTD.Well,nonethelessIamgoingtogiveitatry…

Originally from China, Amy first came to Ireland in the late 1990’s with

ambitions of developing a career in the media thanks to her mother and

grandfather, both of whom worked as journalists. Now a naturalised

Irish citizen, she works with the Industrial Development Agency (IDA)

following her OPD placement. She has also run a successful consultancy

business. Through her business and involvement in events such as the

Shanghai World Exposition in 2010, as well as the Dublin Chinese New

Year Festival Committee, Amy is active in fostering relations between

her native China and her adopted home. This has fuelled her interest

in politics, and she hopes to help further inform and integrate her

community via her participation in the OPD scheme.

Name: Amy Zhang

Placed with: Minister of State,

Joe Costello TD

Date: February to July 2012


17

Ifyouthinkmultitaskingatcertaintimesofthedayisahugechallengeinanyworkplace,thentrythis,switchinggreatresponsibilitiesinbetweenrunningtheGovernmentofacountryandbeingthevoiceofhispeople.That’sright;MinisterCostello’sdailyengagementsaresetoutbyblackandredmarkingsinhisdiary,blackreferringtoministerialinvolvementandredforconstituencyresponsibilities,bothspreadovera15-hours-a-dayworkingschedule!

FrommeetingwiththeTánaisteataDublinCastleNGOforumonthesecondday,tomeetingwiththeformerPresidentofIrelandatherseminarthesameweek,Iwasmorethanjustthrilledwiththeseunexpectedencounterswiththemostimportantpeopleinthecountry. Every

handshake, every smile and nod, every word I

received filled me with sentiments of encouragement,

motivation and pride for both myself and for the

Chinese community at large here in Ireland.OnoneoccasiontheMinisterremarkedthatwhiletherearetwoChineseGardaíworkinghereatLeinsterHouse,IamprobablythefirstChinesepersontoeverworkintheHousesoftheOireachtas.

IrishAidisoneofthemainfocusesfortheMinister,thereforetherearemanyoverseastradeanddevelopment-relatedmeetings,seminarsandconferencestakingplaceonaregularbasis.MyreadinglistforthelastwhilehasinvolvedlearningabouttheAfricanStrategyandtheWhitePaper,andstudyingthemapoftheAfricancontinent…aswellasfamiliarisingmyselfwithsomemainIrishaffiliatedNGOsworkingonthecontinent.Sofar,Ihavefoundittobeveryeducational,andIaminterestedtolearnmoreaboutIrishAidaswellashowtotranslateideasandconceptsintopractice.

ThereareanumberofclinicsinJoe’sconstituency(sometimesIthinkitisinterestinghowoneminutepeoplecallhimMinister,andthenext,theyrefertohimbyhisfirstname.Thesethingsjustdon’thappen!)Ihaveobservedafew

PhibsboroughclinicsessionsonFridaymornings,andmostofthepeopleattendingthesewanttoseeandtalktoJoehimself.Joelistenspatientlytohisconstituents’queriesandcomplaints,inpersonoroverthephone.Hetreatseverywrittenlettercarefully;hemakessurethatallissueshavebeenlookedafterinatimelymanner.

Allconstituencyissuesaredirectlyrelatedtoeachindividualinthearea,fromjobseeking,hospitalbeds,visaapplication,bincollectionstomedicalcards,housingallocation,schoolrepairsandsoon.Thereisnogloriousmomentinanyoftheseproblems.Theseissuescanoftensoundsimpletobeginwith;howeveronfurtherreflectionitisquicklyobviousthatnotwoqueriesarethesame.Thisemphasisestometheimportanceofcaringwhatpeoplehavetosayatconstituencylevel.

18


Ekow Agyeman Prempeh is originally from Ghana and now lives near

Blanchardstown with his wife and three children. Ekow has completed

a BA in International Relations from Dublin City University and will

be commencing a Masters in Development in September 2013. Founder

and Chairman of the Ireland Branch of the Ghanaian political party New

Patriotic Party (NPP), he has previously represented the Ireland Branch

at the International Conference of the NPP in 2011. His experience

includes voluntary work with Oxfam and interning with Schools without

Borders. He is a patron of the Ghana Union in Ireland, and a member of

the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy based in Berlin.

Name: Ekow Agyeman Prempeh

Placed with: Michael Moynihan TD

Date: September 2012 to March

2013

Ekow’s Diary“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the contents of their character”-Rev.MartinLutherKing.

Theseprophetic,butalso,emotionalandthought-provokingwordsechoedbyDrMartinLutherKing,theblackAmericanmoralcrusaderandcivilrightsactivistintheearlypartofthe1960simmediatelytookholdofmyentirebeingasIcarefullyandpensivelymademywaythroughthesecuritycheckpointofLeinsterHouse-theofficialseatoftheIrishGovernment.

MyinternshipwithMrMichaelMoynihanTDforCorkNorth-WestandFiannaFáilspokespersononCommunications,EnergyandNaturalResourcesofficiallycommencedinlateSeptember;andmyinitialimpressionofhimwasthatheisamanoffewwords,hardworking,reservedbutwarmandengagingtoo.Ihadarrivedthirtyminutesbeforemytimeandwhenheenteredtheoffice,wequicklyexchangedpleasantries;andthenheimmediatelytookmethroughmyremitasonewouldusuallyexpectonthefirstday.Iseizedtheopportunityduringmybreakperiod(onthefirstday)tobrieflyinteractwiththosewhocamewithinmyarmswayandeversince,IhavebeengettingonwellwithagoodnumberoftheFiannaFáilstaff.MyencounterwiththeEuropeanCommissionerforEnergyonmyfirstdaywasanexperiencethatIwillcherishforalongtimetocome.

Asamatteroffact,myunderstandingofIrishpoliticsinparticularandtheartofpoliticsinitselfhavedeepenedandlengthenedovermymorethanamonth’spartnershipwithDeputyMichaelMoynihan…Besides,contrarytomylong-heldperceptionaboutpoliticians(owingtomyAfricanbackground)thattheyalwaysappearcondescendingandthattheyrepresent“IamthemonarchofallthatIsurvey”mentality,myinteractionswithsomedeputiesinLeinsterHouse(includingDeputyMichaelMoynihan)arebeginningtoconflictwiththisassumption.Towit,Irishpoliticianstendtobeordinary,jovial,good-mixersandabovealldown-to-earth…Allinall,theOpeningPowertoDiversityschemeisprobably,themostpromisingpieceofvolunteeringworkIhaveevercommittedmyselfto.ItismyferventhopethatitsfruitsshallbeaninvaluableassettothecommunityIrepresent.Infuture,Iwillnotbesurprisedifthisinitiativegoesdowninhistoryasarguably,oneofthemostempoweringandintegrativesocio-politicalprogrammeseverintroducedontheislandofIreland.

Todate,myinternshipwithDeputyMichaelMoynihanisalittleoverthreemonthsthroughandIamalreadybeginningtoreconcilewithformerTaoiseachSéanLemass’famoussayingthat,“Patriotism,asIunderstandit,isacombinationofloveofcountry,prideinitshistory,traditionsandculture,andadeterminationtoaddtoitsprestigeandachievements”.AsIpacethroughthecorridorsofLeinsterHouseIhavegrowntoappreciatethesacrifices


19

andtenacityofpurposethatcharacterisesatypicalIrishpolitician.

Deputy Moynihan extended an invitation to my

family and I to attend the 55th Annual Séan Moylan

commemoration in a small town called Kiskeam, Co.

Cork a couple of months ago.SéanMoylan,theIrishCivilWarheroturnedpoliticiandied55yearsago.Hededicatedhisentirelifetofightingimperialismandglobalinjustices…ForamanthatÉamonDeValeraaptlydescribedasa“soulofintegrity”,Iwillforevercherishpayinghomagetohisgraveside.Formeandmyfamily,itwasapilgrimageofhugesignificance.

Butperhaps,itwasbeingtheonlyblackperson/immigrantintheDáilPublicGalleryduringthebudgetreadingearlylastmonththatwillforeverremainonmymind’seye.ProudlysportingmyHouseoftheOireachtassecuritycheckcard,Icalmly,butconfidentlymademywaythroughthesomewhatheavilyguardedcorridorsofLeinsterHousetoheartheFinanceandPublicExpenditureMinistersdelivertheirsixthausteritymeasureinfouryears(whilstpeopledemonstratedoutside).

Attheendoflastyear,IaskedtomeetwiththeLeaderoftheFiannaFáilParty,MicheálMartin.Inthesamemeasure,IintendtomeettheTaoiseachafterChristmas;first,totapintohisexperiences,andsecond,tothankhimfortherareprivilegeandhonouraccordedtomeandbyextension,theentireGhanaiancommunity.IhavemetsomeIrishpoliticalgiantsnotably,GerryAdams,ÉamonÓ’Cuív,JoanBurton,MaryLouMcDonaldandtheLeaderofPeopleBeforeProfit,RichardBoydBarret,justtonameafewandIwasinvitedtotheFiannaFáilendofyearChristmaspartylastyear.

Allinall,IamfilledwithprideasIreportthatmyjourneyinLeinsterHouseofficiallyexpiredinMarch.Ihavebeendreadingthedaycoming;consciousoftheinevitablefeelingofnostalgiathatwillbefallme;ostensibly,duetothestrongbondIhaveestablishedwith

DeputyMoynihaninparticular,andothersinthecourseofmystintinDáilÉireann.Butthen,wemustgivewaytootherimmigrantstohavetheirfairshare,andalsohavetherareopportunitytorespondtochangingtimesinthisRepublic.Tocapit,myverylastdaywasquiteemotional.IwasinapensivemoodthroughoutthedayasIbadefinalgood-byetoanyoneIcameacross.ThenasIsatfacetofacewithDeputyMoynihan,themanwhoIconsidertobeoneofmygreatestmentors,toexchangeourlastpleasantries,Iwaschuffedtohearoftheheart-warmingfarewelldinnerorganisedbyFiannaFáilstaff.

20


Erica’s DiaryThursday19thJanuary-thewaitisover,IhaveofficiallystartedmyplacementatLeinsterHouse.Captivatedbythegrandeurofthebuildings,IreflectonthehumblebeginningsofIrishpolitics.SenatorAverilPowerisfriendlyanddowntoearthwithanimpressiveresumeandstrongconvictions.ItspeaksvolumesthatthefirsttwoeventsIaccompanyhertoareaprotestagainstDEIScutbacksorganisedbyvariousschools,andtheLaunchofChildren’sRightsAllianceReportCard2012attheEuropeanParliamentOffice.Sheisrelaxedyetengagingatbothandthisremindsmeofhowcrucialitisforapoliticiantobeawareofcurrentaffairs.

WhenIamnotwithAveril,IassistwithadministrativeandconstituencylevelworkalongwithhersecretaryOrlagh.ThisenablesmetogainavariedperspectiveofthebehindthescenesworkthatisinvolvedinaSenator’soffice.

In early March, I am fortunate to attend the Fianna Fáil

Ard Fheis as an observer. Withover4,500peoplethere,theatmosphereiselectricwiththemainfocusoftheday,theintroductionofgenderquotasbytheparty,debatedatgreatlength…Averilisinherelement,herenthusiasmisinfectiousandasthedaydrawstoacloseIadmireherpropensitytokeepsmilingthroughout!

Myesteemforhergrowsoverthenextfewweeks,anditisduringtheinteresting‘WomenforElection’launchthatI

cometotheconclusionthattheimplicationsofhavingyournameonaballotpaperaresignificantandthat‘ordinarypeople’canalsorisethroughtherankstobeanachiever.Inthebriefperiodofmyplacementtodate,IhavecometothinkhighlyofSenatorPowerandwhatshestandsfor.AnarticleIreadchartingtheSenator’srisefromafamilyoffiveinasmallcouncilhouseinShankilldemonstratesthatpoliticsisnotonlythepreserveofpoliticaldynastiesbuttoallwhobelieveinmakingadifferenceinbringingaboutsocialjustice.Averil’sstoryisatrueinspirationandIintendtoaskmyboystoreadherstorytoinspirethem.

Ican’tbelievehowtimeflies.ItseemslikeonlyyesterdaywhenIwasbuzzingwithenergyandenthusiasm,lookingforwardtostartingmyinternshipwithSenatorAverilPower.However,asthesayinggoes,“everythingthathasabeginningalsohasanend”.MyinternshipjourneyatLeinsterHousehasendedaftersixmonthsandthequestionIaskmyselfis,whysosoon?

The experience is rich and fully packed with insights.

Politics is not as dirty as I thought it to be after all – at

least, not the vast majority. Politics is a serious business

that requires a high level of alertness, tact or sensitivity,

commitment, inner strength, toughness and a sense

of humour at the same time.MyexperienceinLeinsterHousehastaughtmethatagenuinepoliticianisonethathasthepeople’sinterestsatheart(genuinely).Whethertheyaremakingdecisionsthatareperceivedintheshort

Since coming to Ireland almost a decade ago from Ghana, Erica has been

involved in various community-based organisations committed to promoting

integration, diversity and multi-culturalism in both Donegal and Dublin.

Erica is currently completing a Masters in Development Studies in KDSC

and working as a Community Health worker with Cairde. During her time

in Donegal she presented a programme on Highland radio called ‘Voice of

Africa’ and graduated from Letterkenny Institute of Technology with a BA

(Hons) in Community Studies. Erica is currently a member of the European

Integration Forum held in Brussels and has recently been elected as Vice

Chair of the South Dublin Migrant Integration Forum. Her interest in raising

awareness of cultural diversity and promoting social inclusion of minority

groups prompted her to become involved in the OPD scheme.

Name: Erica Birch Abban

Placed with: Senator Averil Power

Date: January to June 2012


21

termtobetooharshbutwillbenefitthepeopleinthelongterm,orjoiningthepeopletoprotestagainstdecisionsthatwillhavedetrimentaleffectsonIrishcitizens.Onehastorelatetothepeopleatthegrassrootslevelinordertoknowwhattheirrealissuesare;askillthatAverilmastersin.Sheneverceasedtoamazemewiththeeasewithwhichsherelatedtoeveryoneshecameintocontactwith,whethertheywereknownorunknowntoher.

Lookingbacknow,Irealisethatmyadministrativeskillshavebeensharpenedthroughworkinginsuchafast-paced,dynamicenvironmentwhereonehastobeontopofmattersarising.Tasksincludedanythingfromupdatingtheconstituents’database,arrangingmeetingsanddealingwithLocalAuthorities,advocatingonbehalfofconstituentsforsocialwelfareentitlements,liaisingwithcommunitywelfareofficers,hospitals,medicalcards,housingallocations,bincollections,etc.ThiscamenaturallytomeasadvocacyworkiswhatIdo.Nevertheless,Ihavecometorealisethatashardaspoliticiansworktosolvethepeople’sproblemsquickly,thereisno‘magicformula’forresolvingcertainissues…DuringmytimeinAveril’soffice,Isawhowsupportivemostconstituentscanbe,buthowmeanandevenabusiveasmallpercentagecanbe.Iobservedwithgreatadmiration,howAverildealtwithsuchunpleasantnessandrealisedthat,youcannotallowyourselftobeemotionallyaffectedbytheseissuesasapolitician.

TheOPDschemehasgivenmetheopportunitytoworkandmeetwithmanypoliticiansandtheirparliamentaryassistants.IfIthoughtbeforethatmyworkwasverybusy,Iretractthatstatementbecausenow,IhavehadtheexperienceofworkinginoneofthebusiestenvironmentsontheIslandofIreland.ItwasanexperiencethatIwillcherishforever,fromresearchingandgatheringmaterialsforpressreleasesandbriefings,draftingletters,dealingwithcorrespondence,arrangingmeetings,dealingwithtelephonequeries

andgeneralqueries,providinggeneraladministrativeassistance,attendingfunctionswithAveril,workingoncampaignmaterialsoranyotherdutiesthatIwasrequiredtodo.

AsOliverWendellHolmes,Jnr.putsit,“a mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions”.Thankyousomuch!IfIhadmyway,Iwoulddoitalloveragain,andincaseyouarewonderingifIwouldbeinterestedinpursuingpolitics?Theanswerisanemphaticyes!It might take some time to set the

ball rolling but this experience has definitely given

me more confidence, skills and insight that I could

utilise in serving this nation – our nation Ireland.Forthosestartingthenextround,Isaykudos;beproactive,confident,courageous,enthusiastic,hardworkingateam-worker,butaboveall,enjoytheexperience–itispriceless!

22


Evans’ Diary Itisnoteverydaythatyouseeyourdreamsfulfilled.Infactsometimesitiseasiertoconvinceyourselfthatitwillneverhappen.Myfirstdaywasalmostlikemyfirstdayatschool,butIneednothaveworriedaseveryonewasverywelcomingandsupportive.I had to contain my

excitement as I was shown into the Dáil chamber to

observe the Tánaiste in the hot seat! To someone such

as me it was like magic and I now ritually watch the

debates for half an hour once a week.

TwiceaweekImakemywaytoLeinsterHouseandsmileasIwalkstraightthroughsecuritythankstomybadge.Mostofmytimeisspenthelpingwithresearch.ThisismoreimportantthanitmayfirstseemasitinformsmuchofthecontentoftheDáildebates.Alltheinformationmustbecarefullycollectedfromreputablesourcesandthereisnoroomforerror.Itakethistaskveryseriously;itishighlyrewardingwhenIlistentothedebatesandknowthatIhavecontributedinmyownsmallway.InadditiontothisIhaveexpandedmyownknowledgeinthevariousareas.

Inconjunctionwithmydaytodaywork,IhavealsoattendedanumberofconferencesincludingtheYPAR(YoungPeopleatRisk)ConferenceatClonliffeCollegeinDublin.MaureenO’SullivanTDwasChairofthesessiononeducationanditwaseyeopeningformeasIwasnotawareofmanyofthedifficultiesfacedbyyoungpeople.Someof

theirstorieswereespeciallyemotiveandIwasstruckbythenumberofdifferentgroupsdedicatedtosupportingvulnerableyoungpeopleinIreland.

AnotherofmyfavouriteactivitiesinvolvesattendingCommitteemeetingsanditisfascinatingtoseeofficialsrespondingtopublicscrutiny.TheimportanceofthisisnotlostonmeaseachpolicythatisdiscussedhasabearingonourlivesandIhaveresolvedtotaketimetoparticipateinsuchinitiatives.

WhenitcomestopoliticsIwouldhavelabelledmyselfacynic,yetmyimpressionoftheTDsIhaveencounteredtodateisoneofintegrityandhardwork.Itamazesmethattheyareinvolvedineverythingfromconstituencyworktocomplexissuessuchashousingandsocialwelfare.Ihavegrowntoappreciatehowstrenuoustheirworkloadis.Thisopportunityhaschallengedmypreconceptionsabouthowremovedpoliticiansarefromus,thepublic,andIhavecometoappreciatethatthevastmajorityarededicatedtomakingadifferenceinoureverydaylives.

Recently,someoneIknowaskedmeifIhad‘soldmysoulyet?’Thisremarkmademereflectonhowforpeoplestrugglingtomakeendsmeet,thoseinvolvedinpoliticsareoftenconsideredremovedfromtherealworld.TheshoutingandhecklingintheDáilmayappearchaoticbutthatisdemocracy.Insomecountriesthereisnoopportunityforsuchdebatestotakeplace,withthegovernmentleft

As a journalist and political sceptic, for Evans, this experience is about

gaining an insight into the Irish political system. Originally from

Zimbabwe, he is acutely aware of the impact political decisions have on

the everyday lives of people. Having resided in Ireland since 2007, he

believes there is a necessity for increased dialogue between migrants and

policy-makers, as while the majority of the electorate only interact with

the political system during elections, those without voting rights do so

even less. Settled in Navan with his family, he has written on a freelance

basis for Meath Post and Metro Éireann. As a participant of Near FM’s

intercultural project he has also presented a number of radio programmes

on the subject of interculturalism. .

Name: Evans Shirihuru

Placed with: Maureen O’Sullivan TD

Date: January to June 2012


23

unaccountabletoitscitizensasaresult.SittinginthebalconyoftheesteemedHouseoftheOireachtaswatchingthesedebatesandlisteningtothepeoplewhomakedecisionsonbehalfoftherestofus,ithasbecomecleartomehowessentialitistohaveavoiceinademocracy.Ihaveexperiencedfirst-handhowmuchTDsengagewiththeirconstituents,andhowtheyasktoughquestionstoMinistersonbehalfoftheelectorate.

WorkinginsuchcloseproximitytoaTDissomethingmostpeopledonotgettoexperienceandduringmyshorttimeatLeinsterHouseIhavereallycometofeelathome.Thisisdueinparttohowwelcomingmyco-workershavebeen,asdespitetheirbusyschedulestheyhavereallyensuredthatIenjoymyselfandhaveaworthwhileexperience. IronicallynowthatIhavestartedtobecomefamiliarwithhowpoliticswork,mytimeontheprogrammeisending.WhileImaynotrunforIndependentfortheforeseeablefuture,thisiscertainlynottheendofmyinterestinthepoliticalsphereandifanythingI am now more aware than ever before of

the importance of partaking in the political process.

AsIgazedthroughtheofficewindowdigestingtheconceptofmyinternshipcomingtoanend,Icouldn’tresistfeelingsorryformyself.Sayinggoodbyetosomethingishard,especiallyifyoulikeit.Ididn’tknowhowIwasgoingtofeelwhenIstartedtheinternship.IhadmixedfeelingsaboutitbutitallchangedonceIbecamesettled.

IrealiseditwasanopportunitytoevaluatemyselfandtoachievewhatIwantinmylife.TomethiswasagreatopportunityandIcherishedeveryminuteofit.SomeoneaskedmeifIwassadthatIwasgoingtoleavetheseatofpowerinIreland.AnotherwantedtoknowifIwilldecidetogointopoliticsfulltime.Myanswerhasandwillalwaysbeafirmno.Mostpeopledonotrealisehowdemandingitisbeingapublicservant,especiallyintheworldofFacebookandTwitter.Peoplenowmorethaneverwanttheirproblemssolvedonthe

spot.Atsomelevel,Ithinkitisgoodfordemocracybutitmakespublicservicemuchmoredifficult.

ThehecticnatureofthejobandthededicationofthestaffiscertainlysomethingIwillmiss.Iwillmissinteractionswithpeoplewhocalledtotheofficeeveryday.IfeltIwaspartofsomething,IfeltIwasaforceforgood.IwillmissthewarmthofthepeopleImetincorridors,betheyTDsormembersofstaff.IwillmissthepeopleIworkedwith.OverallIwillcertainlymissmybossMaureen.ShegavemeanopportunitywhichIthinkwillenrichmeinallmyfutureplans.

Mylastdaywasthemostmemorableofthemall.Everyoneintheofficemadethatdayveryenjoyable.IfIhadsuperpowersIwouldhavedraggeditmaybetilltotoday.Tomethisdidn’tfeellikeagoodbyeday,insteaditfeltlike‘aseeyoulaterpal’.

24


Mariam’s Diary Priortomyfirstday,IknewthekindofworkthatIwouldbeexpectedtodo,thehours,butIreallydidn’tknowwhattheatmospherewouldbelike.Ididn’tknowwhattoexpectsinceLeinsterHouseandworkingforaTDisn’treallysomethingyoucancallafriend/colleaguetoaskforinsight.SolookingbackthatwoulddefinitelybewhatIwasthemostcuriousabout.MyhopeforthisinternshipisthatIamabletogainextensivevaluableinsightintowhataLawmaker’soffice/work/roleentails.IhopethatduringmytimethereIaddvalue,showthatIameagertolearnevenwhenshy.

Onmyfirstday,myfirstimpressionsofwalkingthroughLeinsterHouseandalongthehallwayswithpicturesofformerandpresentIrishpoliticiansonthewallwasjustsheeraweattheamountofhistorythathas,isandwillbemadeinthisbuilding.I saw people who were passionate

about their country, community and were active

citizens. OneofthethingsInoticedstraightawaywashowbusymostTDsincludingAnnewereandhowinvaluablethesupporttheygetfromtheassistantsisinhelpingthemdealwiththeadministrativeandbackofficeendoftheirrole.

AlthoughithasonlybeenjustoveramonthsinceIstartedmyinternshipatLabourTDAnneFerris’office,itfeelslikemuchlonger.ThisisbecauseIhavealreadyengagedinarangeofinterestingtasksandresponsibilitiesandhave

beenmadetofeelsowelcomedbyDeputyAnneFerrisandherParliamentaryAssistantJodyMadigan.Bothofthemareveryapproachable,downtoearth,andwelcoming.ThismademesettleinmuchquickerthanIexpected.

MyFirstweek:IgotintosomefilingandfromthefilingaloneIgotasignificantinsightintotheextensiveamountofpolicyareasthatpoliticiansarerequiredtokeeptheirtabson.IknewinstantlythatnotwodaysmusteverbethesameforaTDandtheirassistants.TheseconddayIwasbriefedbyJodyastotheareasIwouldbeworkingonandupcomingprojects,whichIwasverycomfortableandpleasedwithastheymatchedmybackgroundandthingsthatIlikedoing,suchasAnne’ssocialmediaengagement,pressreleases,researchandmedia/newsthatwererelevanttoAnne’sconstituency.WhatalsostoodouttomewasthefactthattheyinquirediftherewereanyparticularpolicyareasthatIwasespeciallyinterestedin,soitcouldbekeptinmind,incaseanybriefingsorconferencesoreventscameup.Istarteddraftingalocalpressreleaseonmysecondday,Icouldn’tbelieveit.

AhighlightformewasalsoattendingthePolicyNetwork’sProgressiveGovernanceSeminarwhichwashostedbytheTánaisteEamonGilmore.Ireallyenjoyedtheseminar,itwasveryengaging,andIhadtheopportunitytomeetsomeexcitingpeople.IhadaninterestingconversationatlunchwithWendyCarlinaProfessorofEconomicsattheUniversityCollegeofLondon,whoalsodeliveredapaper

Mariam is from Nigeria. She has completed a Masters in Human Resource

Management at the National College of Ireland and a Bachelor of Law

from the University of Kent. Mariam is Youth Officer for the Ireland

branch of the Nigerian political party Action Congress of Nigeria. Founder

of KuSoma, a moving library project providing rural villages in Africa with

access to books, Mariam recently organised a ‘Young, Nigerian and Gifted’

event to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence. Mariam has worked as a

presenter for Dublin City FM and is Vice Editor of SEADiaspora, an online

publication covering African affairs. .

Name: Mariam Salami

Placed with: Anne Ferris TD



25

ontheday.IwastryingnottopinchmyselftothinkthatIwashavingaconversationwithherontheroleofwomeninpoliticsandcomparisonsbetweenIrelandandSweden.

It’snowhalfwaythroughmyinternshipatDáilÉireanninDeputyAnneFerris’officeandIreallycannotbelievehowfasttimehasgone.Theysayitflieswhenyouarehavingfunandthiscouldn’tbemoretrue.IamreallyenjoyingtheexperienceofworkinginAnneFerris’office.

IreallyenjoyattendingbriefingsbecauseyougettohearabouttheresearchdifferentbodieshaveconductedandtheirrecommendationsforfuturepolicydirectionandGovernmentaction.You also get to see people in

Government asking questions about the research so it

is very interesting to see how Government liaise with

external bodies.OneofthebriefingsthatIattendedthatreallystoodoutformewastheoneorganisedbytheNationalWomen’sCouncilofIrelandwhichlookedatthepositionofwomenintheIrishConstitution.BeingayoungwomaninIrelandIaminterestedinwhattheConstitutionsaysaboutawoman’srightsasIconsideritasymbolicstatementofhowtheIrishpeoplevaluewomen.

ThebestpartaboutthatparticularbriefingwasthelittletreatattheendwhereKathyD’Arcydidawonderfulshortperformancefromherplay‘ThisismyConstitution’whichwasbasedonmaterialintheIrishNationalArchivesanddocumentsaboutthecampaignthatIrishwomenin1937initiatedtohavethewordingoftheproposedIrishConstitutionamended.Thewordingbeingchallengedstatedthat‘byherlifewithinthehomeawomangivestothestateasupportwithoutwhichthecommongoodcannotbeachieved’.ItwasreallyinterestingtoseethatwomenhavechallengedthewaytheConstitutionregardedandstillregardsthem.InrelationtotheConstitutionIalsodidsomeresearchontheConstitutionalConventionwhichIbelieveisauniquewayoflookingatpartsofthecurrent

ConstitutionthatservemodernIrelandwellandpartsthatdonot.

IhavealsobeenresearchinglawssurroundingtheIncitementofHatredActinIrelandfollowinganotherveryinterestingandengagingbriefingIattended.Itishoweverviewedasveryineffectivebysomeandrarelyused.

I am conscious and shocked that I only have a couple

of weeks left of the internship so I hope to make the

most of it by engaging in more tasks, learning more,

meeting more people and attending more briefings.

An Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore

“The Opening Power to Diversity measure is an imaginative initiative which to date has involved 10 members of the Houses of the Oireachtas...It is apparent, not least from the testimonies of immigrant participants, that they have derived great benefit from this and are very much empowered to engage confidently with the political system in the future. I believe that the benefits have been mutual and that the Oireachtas participants give positive feedback on the project too.”

26


Mandy’s DiaryFirstofall,IwouldliketosaytherearenowordstoexpresshowgratefulIamtobepartoftheOPDprogramme,anditismyhonourtobeabletoshadowDeputyÉamonÓ’CuívtheWestGalwayTDandalsothespokespersononAgriculture,FoodandCommunityAffairsforFiannaFáil.It’s only the fourth week of the programme, but I have

already found the experience to date inside Leinster

house with Deputy Ó’Cuív to be very exciting and

beneficial.

Iwasveryimpressedbytheotherteammembersontheveryfirstdayofmyarrival.ImetKevin,EoinandPatricia.Theyarefullofenergy,smart,veryfriendlyandkind,andfullofexperiences.Theyhaveallmademefeelreallywelcome!

MyscheduleforthefirstfourweekswithDeputyÓ’Cuívwasquiteintensive.Asaspokespersonforagriculturalpolicy,DeputyÓ’CuívwasresponsiblefororganisingthePloughingChampionshipinWexford.Inotonlyhadtheopportunitytoattendwithhim,Ialsohadtheopportunitytoseehimbeinginterviewedbymanydifferentmediaoutletsbothlocalandnational.Inoneofthemaininterviews,hewasaskedbyanRTEpresentertodiscussafewpopulartopicssuchastheseptictankissueandtheMcCarthyfamilyissuewithafewotherTDsfromoppositionparties.Itwasveryinterestingandexciting.

Asanintern,IhavetheopportunitytoattendvariousmeetingsandconferenceswithhimoronbehalfofDeputyÓ’Cuív.Duringthesemeetings,Iamnotonlyabletoreceivefirst-handinformationonnewGovernmentpolicy;Iamalsofilledwithplentyofnewknowledge.SometimesIamtouchedbythedifferentreal-lifetestimoniesIwitness.IalsohadanopportunitytoattendtheLeadersQuestionssectionintheDáil;itwasjustlikewhatIhaveseenonTV.Itwaseyeopening.Iamalsoresponsibleforsomeadministrationworklikefiling,conductingresearchandreadings.Iamalsoamazedandshockedbyhiscrazyscheduleandansweringthousandsofphonecallseverydayfrompeoplewithdifferentproblems.

IamimpressednotjustbyDeputyÓ’Cuív’sfamilybackgroundandhispopularity,itishisknowledgeandhispastexperiencesasaformerMinisterofsomanydifferentGovernmentaldepartmentsthatreallyblewmeaway!Everyconversationbetweenusisveryinsightfulandvaluable,weshareourthoughtsonpolitics.

Ialsogreatlyappreciatehiskindness,hiswillingnesstoteach,andhisencouragement.SinceworkingwithDeputyÓ’Cuív,hehaschangedmypreconceptionsofIrishpoliticianscompletely.Irishpoliticiansarehard-working,helpfulandapproachable.IamreallylookingforwardtotherestofmyinternshipwithDeputyÓ’CuívandIamwillingtolearnandIamhappytoassisthimineveryway.

Mandy Lau moved from Hong Kong 23 years ago and is now a naturalised

Irish citizen. Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin she volunteers

as an interpreter with Crosscare Migrant Project. Mandy also teaches

English to members of the Chinese community in Ireland via the Chinese

Gospel Church in Dublin. Mandy has a Degree in Political Science and

Business Management from Trinity College Dublin. She has extensive

business experience and is currently the manager of her family-run

restaurant in Kildare. Mandy believes that there is a need for greater

involvement of migrants in the political sphere and her ultimate goal is

to promote the participation and integration of the Chinese community in

Irish society.

Name: Mandy Lau

Placed with: Éamon Ó’Cuív TD


2013


27

Micheál Martin TD, party leader of Fianna Fáil

“I fully endorse and welcome the ‘Opening Power to Diversity’ project. My party believes it is a very innovative policy that will benefit both the Oireachtas and the participants involved. Spending six months in Leinster House as an intern allows immigrants to experience Ireland’s democracy in action. It also allows us as elected representatives to learn from the intern’s personal experiences. Political involvement and diversity is crucial to a functioning democracy and the more engagement there is in projects like this, the better. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Crosscare not only for taking the initiative on this diversity project but for all their tremendous work.”

28


Voltaire’s Diary“What is politics?” This question was asked by my little

girl Alaina, 5, who has taken interest in what I have

been doing lately since I told her that I am working in

politics at Leinster House.Iwasabitthrownoffguardbythisquestion.Ibettercomeupwithasimpledefinition,beingcarefulnottomentionwordsthatcouldtriggeranendlesstrainofquestionsfromthiscuriousfive-year-old.ThisisthebestIcouldcomeupwith:“Politicsiswhenimportantpeoplegathertogethertomakedecisionsforabrighterfutureforkidslikeyou”.Hernextquestionreallythrewmeoff.“Areyougoingtobeimportantpeople(sic)atLeinsterHouse,too?”Ianswered“Yes,maybe.”“Wow!”sheexclaimedandoffshewentwithlittleAidanintowbackintotheirownsmallworld.Apparently,shedidnotrealizethattobeoneofthe‘importantpeople’meansthat,amongotherthings,Ihavetohurdlethebarriersthathaveoftendiscouragedpeoplefrommigrantbackgroundsfromseekingpublicoffice.

ItwasapleasantsurprisethatmyapplicationgotthenodfromaTDforDublinNorthCentral.IwaspairedwithAodhánÓ’RíordáinTDLabour…IdidaquickresearchontheissuesthatDeputyÓ’Ríordáinwasinvolvedintopreparemyselfforthetask.MostnotableofwhichwastheissueofforcedlabourthatheraisedintheDáil.Beingamigrantworkermyself,itishearteningtonote

thatsomebodylikeDeputyÓ’Ríordáincanvoiceouttheconcernsandissuesthatmigrantworkersarefacingtoday.Suchagestureshallforeverbelaudedbythemigrantcommunity.

The19thofSeptemberwasmyfirstofficialdayintheDáil.Aftermeetingmeatthelobby,Rory,abrilliantParliamentaryAssistanttoDeputyÓ’Ríordáin,immediatelyshowedmeeverythingaroundtheofficethatIwillbeworkingon:files,folders,internetaccounts,phonecalls,etc.IwasquicklygreetedbytheTDwhohadatightschedulethatdayasitwastheseconddayoftheopeningoftheDáilsessionscomingoffthesummerholidays.IwasalsointroducedtootherpeopleintheLabourpartyworkingwithotherTDs.EveryoneImetmademefeelverywelcome.IfeltassuredthatmystayintheDáilalbeittemporarywillbeworthwhile.

WeproceededtotheDáilchamberwherethesessionwasgoingon.Ifoundaseatatthevisitors’galleryandstayedthereforawhilesinceitwasmyfirsttimetowatchtheLeader’sQuestionswheretheTaoiseachwasansweringquestionsfromoppositionTDsaboutcertainGovernmentactionsandpolicies.Therewasshoutingandalotofinterruptions.Therewereburstsoflaughtereverytimesomebodyinjectedabitofhumourinanotherwiseheateddiscussion.Thisisdemocracyatworkwhereeveryonehastherighttobeheardandtospeakorevenshout.

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2005 from the Philippines, Voltaire held

various posts over a twenty year period, including Policy Enforcement

Officer, within the Bureau of Local Government Finance in the

Department of Finance in the Philippines. He holds a Bachelor of Science

and Civil Engineering from Manila National University, along with a

Bachelor of Law from Arellano Law School in Pasay City. In 2000, he

passed the Bar Examinations for the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

His previous experience includes time as a Civil Engineer and he has

worked as a CAD Operator since moving to Ireland.

Name: Voltaire Bicomong

Placed with: Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin TD


2013


29

Later,IwasaskedtorepresentDeputyÓ’RíordáininthebriefingabouttheConnacht-UlsterAlliancetobeheldatlunchtimeatBuswell’sHoteljustacrosstheroadfromLeinsterHouse…Laterthatsameafternoon,Iwasaskedtoattendabriefingontheso-called“Cuban5”whereintheCubanAmbassadormadeanappealtoallIrishpoliticianstosupporttheircampaignforare-trialofthecasesoffiveCubannationalsconvictedofterrorismintheUS.

Attheconstituencyoffice,leafletsforpublicmeetingson“YouthUnemployment”and“MarriageEquality”wereprepared.NoreenledusaroundtheDrumcondraareawheretheleafletsaretobedistributed.ItwasafreshexperienceformeasIhavenotdoneleafletdistributionbefore.Atpresent,IamassistingNoreeninthecreationofadatabaseofpeopleintheconstituencywithlocalissuesthatweregivenattention.ThisisoneofmyfavouritesasIgettopracticemyskillsinusingMSsoftwarepackages.

Every Wednesday morning when I walk through the

main portal along Kildare Street of Leinster House,

proudly wearing my pass card, I cannot help but feel a

certain kind of transformation from being a ‘nobody’

to somebody who is connected to the Irish political

system.Afewmonthsback,IdidnothavetheslightestideathatIwouldbeworkinginLeinsterHouse.Icouldonlywishitwillneverend.

Atthispoint,withonlymonthsintothescheme,IcouldsaywithpridethatIhaveobservedfirsthandAodhánÓ’RíordáinTDintheperformanceofhisdutiesandfunctionswhichdemandnolessthantotaldedicationandcommitmentcoupledwithagenuinedesiretoservethepublic.Icanonlyenvythesenseoffulfilmenthederivesoutofthisnobletask.WillIbefollowinginhisfootstepstobeoneofthe‘importantpeopleatLeinsterHouse’asmydaughterwouldprobablywishmetobe?IhavetoadmitthatIamnotmadeofsternerstufftofollowthepathtoasuccessfulpoliticalcareer.Icouldgetinvolvedinpoliticsinsomeothercapacitythough.ButstillIamkeepingmyoptionsopen.MaybeattheendoftheOPDscheme,Iwillbemoreinspired.

30

Impacts of the scheme

TheOPDschemehasthreemainaims:




ThelongtermimpactsoftheOPDschemecouldbeverysignificantandcanonlybemeasuredovertime.Suchimpactscanbedifficulttomeasureandrequirefurtherwork.Howevertherehavebeensomeimmediateandshorttermimpacts.

Intermsofthefirstaimoftheschemefeedbackwassoughtfromallparticipatingmigrantsandparliamentariansintermsoftheirdirectexperienceofparticipatinginthescheme.Withoutexceptionthefeedbackwaspositive.Asthediaryexcerptsshow,allmigrantparticipantstodatehavefoundittobeaveryvaluableexperience.Therearenumerouscommentsinthediariesaboutthevalueoftheschemeasalearningexperienceandalsoreferencestochangedattitudesinrelationtopolitics–alongwithaclearlystatedgreaterinterestinpolitics.Itisimportantalsotonoteandmeasurethefeedbackoftheparliamentarianswhichhasalsobeenpositivewithoutexception:

Derek Keating TD

“The Opening Power to Diversity scheme is an excellent scheme that has over time, the potential to make a significant and positive impact not only on the lives of individual migrants and migrant communities but also on social policy in Ireland by influencing political thinking and debate…The capacity to promote migrant integration is considerable. Crosscare has managed to convince us of the benefits and has managed the complexity of placing

an intern in a most professional manner. In particular by placing a well motivated, highly skilled and willing to learn candidate with us.”

Senator Averil Power

“The programme not only benefits the intern, it also gives the Senator or TD an opportunity to improve their understanding of the culture and perspectives of the migrant community…I had a very positive experience with the candidate I received from the OPD scheme. She worked in the office alongside my assistant and quickly became an invaluable member of our team. She was friendly and adaptable and her high level of skills and ability to perform a wide range of tasks was of great benefit.”

ThesecondandthirdmainaimsoftheOPDschemearelonger-termaimsandtheirimpactismoredifficulttoassessatthisearlystage.Howeverintermsofgeneratingunderstandingandparticipation(barthedirectparticipants)therewasasignificantincreaseinthemediacoverageoftheschemeinthesecondround.Duringthefirstroundthefocuswasonthemoreimmediatepriorityofputtinginplacethesupportsandstructurestoensurethematchesweregoingwellforbothparties.Thediariesarethemaintoolforbringingtheparticipant’sexperiencetothewiderpublicandtherewasconsiderabledistributionanduseoftheseduringthesecondround.Moredetailscanbeviewedatwww.livinginireland.ie.Migrantparticipantswerealsoaskedabouthowmanyfamilymembersorfriendstheyhadtoldaboutthescheme–thistotalledanimpressive1,400peoplemuchofwhichwascreditedtosocialmediafriends.

Thereisalsosomeevidenceofimpactsonthethirdaimofpromotingdiversityinpoliticsandsocietyatlarge.ApartfromthoseTDsandSenatorsthatparticipateddirectly,itwasclearfromCrosscare’sengagementwiththeauthorities


31

inLeinsterHouseandotherTDsandSenatorsthatsupportforthefundamentalconceptattheheartoftheOPDscheme(theimportanceofmigrantinvolvementinpolitics)hasgrownsincethebeginningsofthescheme.

MigrantparticipantsalsoagreedtogetinvolvedinmeetingsoftheCrosscareMigrantProjectPolicyWorkingGroup.TheaimofthePolicyWorkingGroupistobetterinformandguidethedirectionandcontentofourpolicyworkonimmigrationandintegrationissues.ItisenvisagedthatsuchguidancewillcontinuetoenhanceCrosscareMigrantProject’spolicywork.

Where to next? ThepositivereactionsfromallparticipatingmigrantsandparliamentarianstotheOPDschemeareastrongindictorthatthereisaplaceandneedfortheOPDschemetocontinue.Theschemeisstillintheearlystagesofdevelopmentandtherearestillimprovementstobemadetotheschemetomakeitmoreimpactful.

• Inorderforaimstwoandthreetobebettermetthereneedstobemoreemphasisingeneratingpublicknowledgeoftheschemeinfuturerounds.Theuseofothermediabeyondwrittendiariestocommunicatethemigrant’s/newIrishcitizen’sexperienceinLeinsterHouse,needtobeexplored.Howeverabalanceneedstobefoundintermsofensuringconfidentialityofsensitiveinformationthattheyhaveaccessto.Thelocalandnationalmediacoverageobtainedforthesecondroundneedstobebuiltuponinthefuture.Moreworkalsoneedstobedoneinraisingawarenessoftheschemewithinpoliticalparties.

• Akeyareaofimprovementfortheschemeisinrelationtofinancialsupports.Adequatefinancialresourceswerenotavailablefortheinitialroundsofthescheme,whichmeantthattravelandlunchexpensesweregenerallynot

covered.Thiseconomicrealitywasopenlyflaggedintheadvertisingandthroughouttherecruitmentphasesforthepanel.Resourceshavebeenavailabletocoversomemeetingexpensesandtocovertransportcostsforoccasionalvisitstoconstituencyoffices.ThisissueislargelyasaresultofthefactthattheOPDschemeconceptisanelaborationoftheinitialideaforwhichCrosscareMigrantProjectwasgrantedfundingin2010.TheinitialconceptwasforaPolicyWorkingGroupwhichwasamuchlessresourceintensiveproposal.TheOPDschemegrewoutofthissmaller,initialidea.Itisenvisagedthatanyroundsoftheschemebeyondroundthreewouldhavestrongerfinancialsupportsbuiltinfortheparticipants.

Theabovearethetwomainareasidentifiedforimprovementbutthereareotherareaswhicharecontinuallybeingbuiltupon:

• theorientationprocess

• thetermsofreferencewhichclarifytherolesofCrosscareMigrantProject,themigrant/newIrishcitizenandtheparliamentarianbefore,duringandaftertheplacement

• thedevelopmentofmoreandbetterimpactindicators

• pathwayguidanceforpost-placement

• theparticipationofthepoliticalpartystructure(whererelevant)

OnthefinalpointitiscrucialthatthepoliticalpartiesembracetheconceptattheheartoftheOPDschemeanddevisetheirownmeasuresforincreasingmigrant/newIrishparticipation,includingtheirownTD-migrantinternshipscheme.ThecurrentworkoftheIntegrationCentreviatheDivPol3projectisalsoimportanttoacknowledgeinthiscontextofpromotingmigrantparticipationinpoliticalparties.

3 http://www.migpolgroup.com/projects_detail.php?id=65

32

Conclusion

Theultimateaimoftheschemeistoensurethatourpoliticalsystemisownedandunderstoodbyallinourdiversesociety.TheOPDschemedoesthisbychallengingestablishedcomfortzonesinthepublicandpoliticalarenas.Italsoopensopportunitiesformigrants/newIrishandopenswindowsoftransparencyintodailylifeinLeinsterHouseforallinsociety.

WehopethattheOPDschemehasandwillcontinuetoopenupthemindsofthepublicandthepeopleinthepoliticalestablishmenttotherichnessofIreland’sdiversity.WehopethatitoffersarealconnectionandsenseofownershipandunderstandingamongpeoplenewtoIrelandinrelationtothepoliticalsystem.Theexcitementanddedicationoftheparticipatingmigrants/newIrishandtheopennessandsupportoftheparticipatingparliamentariansbodeswellforthefutureofethnicdiversityinIrishpolitics.WehopetheschemebothdirectlyandindirectlyinspiresmigrantsandnewIrishcitizenstogetmoreinvolvedinpoliticsateverylevel.However,thereisalong-termjobofworktobedonebeforeourelectedrepresentativesaretrulyreflectiveofoursociety.

WewillconcludewithaveryshortquotefromoneofthemostfamousdescendantsofIrishemigrants:

Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life. JohnF.Kennedy

Crosscare believes that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. This places responsibility on us to work to the highest possible standards while treating every person who uses our services and who works for or with us with care, courtesy and love.

Our work is guided by four core values: Respect, Human Rights, Integrity and Excellence.

Our programmes include: Homeless Services, Food Initiatives, Young People’s Care Services, Teen Counselling, Carer Support Programme, Education, Training & Development, Drug & Alcohol Programme, Care Local, Housing & Welfare Information, Refugee Service,

Migrant Project and Disability Awareness.

This project is co-financed by the European Commission under the European Integration Fund and is supported by the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration in the Department of Justice and Equality, and Pobal.

This project is co-financed by the European Integration Fund

migrant project

innovation and action for social justice

promoting migrant involvement in politics in ireland report 2013.pdf · promoting migrant...

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