Brendan Howlin
Question:128 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a statement on her recent address to the Irish Presidency conference in Bundoran on mobility and social inclusion. [12047/04]
View answerWednesday, 28 April 2004
Questions (105)
Written answers
The conference in question, "Reconciling Mobility and Social Inclusion: the role of employment and social policy", was organised by my Department in consultation with the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Enterprise, Trade and Employment and supported by the EU Commission. The aim of the conference was to examine how employment and social policies and resources can best be focused on promoting the social inclusion of migrants. Another aim was to afford participants an opportunity for an exchange of views and experiences on the various aspects of this process and how such exchanges between member states could be encouraged and facilitated at EU level on an ongoing basis.
In my opening remarks I alluded to the fact that immigration accounted for over 70% of the population growth of the European Union in the last five years. The EU has over 19 million immigrants, of whom over 6 million are from other EU countries, and the remaining two thirds are from countries outside the Union. All the current indications are that the numbers of non-nationals living and working in EU countries will continue to grow and that a significant proportion of that number will be at risk of social exclusion. I pointed out that this presents member states with a challenge. On the one hand, they will need to ensure the effective management of immigration so that the numbers entering their countries are at a sustainable level and in a position to become self sufficient from employment. On the other hand, we must ensure that those admitted as legal residents are given the supports they need to realise their potential and achieve social inclusion.
I will report on the conclusions of the conference and of the other Irish Presidency conference on "Families, change and European Social Policy" to the meeting of the Council of Ministers for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs in June. My aim is that the EU would build on the initiatives and measures described in the Commission communication on immigration, integration and employment and in the employment committee's opinions, as well as in the 2004 joint inclusion report, with a view to having comprehensive strategies on this matter in place for the next full national action plans for the period 2006 to 2009.
Question No. 129 answered with QuestionNo. 85.
Questions Nos. 130 and 131 answered with Question No. 92.