Archive for March, 2008
« Previous EntriesIrish could lose right to vote in Britain
Monday, March 31st, 2008New Irish immigrants to Britain may no longer be entitled to vote in British elections if reform proposals contained in the Goldsmith Report are approved. News reports say, however, that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is likely to reject the controversial proposal.
Peter Goldsmith, a former Attorney General, made the suggestion as part of a wide-ranging study on enhancing British citizenship. He says that Irish and Commonwealth citizens should be denied the vote in Westminster elections, but still be allowed to vote in local, European and devolved elections. He says,
there are two particular issues in relation to Irish citizens. First, the Good Friday Agreement confirms the right of the people of Northern Ireland to take either British or Irish citizenship or both. Anyone who exercises their right under the Agreement to identify themselves as Irish and to take up Irish citizenship should not lose their right to vote in Westminster elections as a result of any change made to restrict voting rights to UK citizens. Hence it would be necessary to distinguish this group of Irish citizens from others. I have not been able to examine the different practical means of doing this but this would have to be part of further consideration of the issue. My proposal is dependent on finding a satisfactory means of distinguishing the two categories in a way that did not affect the position of those exercising rights under the Good Friday Agreement.
Secondly, Ireland is of course a member state of the EU as well. This means that Irish citizens would retain the voting rights that other citizens of EU member states have in the UK. Hence the extent of the change that I am proposing as it relates to Irish citizens is to restrict their right to vote in Westminster elections, while retaining their right to vote in European, local and devolved elections. Also, as I have said, the restriction of the right to vote in Westminster elections should be phased, so that no person who is already resident or registered to vote in the UK loses the right to vote.
The proposal has been strongly criticised by groups working with the Irish in Britain. Fr Gerry McFlynn of the Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas said:
If one is serious about acknowledging the special relationship and historic ties between Britain and Ireland, what is needed is a proposal which ensures that Irish people living in the UK, as well as both parts of Ireland, are entitled to vote in all elections, including the Westminster elections.The oath of allegiance to the Queen has been described as an empty gesture and it will not be popular with the nationalist population in Northern Ireland.
It is hard to see what purpose can be served by visiting such procedures on sections of the population other than to create problems for the future.
IECE replaced by Commission for Migrants
Monday, March 31st, 2008The Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants has been restructured. The move was announced following the March 2008 General meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference held in Maynooth.
The IECE has been replaced by the Commission for Migrants, which is a Commission of the Irish Episcopal Conference. This Commission is supported by a Council for Immigrants and a Council for Emigrants.
The pastoral outreach for this new commission is guided by the norms set out by Erga migrantes caritas Christi (The love of Christ towards migrants), a 2004 Vatican document.
See Erga migrantes caritas Christi
CIIC responds to Taoiseach’s comments on US reform
Monday, March 31st, 2008Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers in the United States has joined other US-based immigrant groups in criticising Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s recent comments about US immigration reform. The organisation is calling for the Irish government to continue its efforts to secure reform measures to benefit the undocumented Irish, who are reported to number between 20,000 to 50,000 among the twelve million undocumented in the US.
The press statement in full:
The Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers joined others in expressing frustration that there is no resolution in sight for undocumented immigrants in the US. The failure of comprehensive immigration reform last year and the rancorous debate that continues on this issue has left the estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish immigrants more vulnerable that ever. The disappointment in Irish communities across the US is palpable after hearing the Taoiseach’s comments that indicate that the Irish Government has given up on any hope of reform that will benefit this segment of the Diaspora.
The stereotype of committed Irish advocates as “sitting in bars and talking nonsense” is particularly offensive to all of us who have worked for years to improve the situation of Irish immigrants across the USA. Irish Centers provide a range of professional services to immigrants including immigration, employment, housing, and counseling. We are skilled professionals working hard to effect positive change and to dispel this characterization that has long plagued the Irish community at home and abroad.
It is important to acknowledge the difficulty and complexity of the situation faced by immigrants who have lived here for many years. They left Ireland before the “Celtic Tiger”; they established themselves and built a life here. The option to uproot themselves and their families and return to Ireland is not realistic. Those who stay in the US are condemned to a life in the shadows, with few rights, as members of an underclass of 12 million undocumented immigrants. Those who go home, as the Taoiseach suggested, will set off a ten year bar which will affect them if they attempt to re-enter to visit family or to apply for any future legalization scheme. Immigration centers are working to make sure that the undocumented immigrants understand their rights and responsibilities and to ensure that everyone is aware of the consequences of their choices.
We cannot lose sight of the real problem, that the existing immigration system is broken. The Irish Government’s efforts to date to fashion a solution to this problem are much appreciated. The Coalition urges them to continue to work with groups in the US and to stand beside her citizens here to find a solution that is sensible and reasonable. The problem will not go away. Recent evidence from Irish centers indicates the opposite is true. New arrivals from Ireland are once again choosing the traditional path west to the USA. The last thing that we want to see is new generations of young undocumented immigrants joining those who came in the 1990’s.
Last year the Irish community across the US united in their thousands under the banner of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. In spite of a massive effort comprehensive immigration reform legislation did not pass. The CIIC encourages everyone to continue be outraged at the treatment of our fellow citizens and to work together against the injustice of the current system. We urge the Irish Government to put their shoulder to the wheel and stay the negotiating table until we get a resolution that will allow undocumented immigrants and their families to live here without fear.
Visit the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers’ website.
DRM samples show reach across Europe
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008Ean believes that radio is an essential component of Ireland’s communication strategy with the Irish abroad. Looking toward the future, digital radio provides the most cost-effective and efficient option for reaching emigrants and Irish citizens in Britain and throughout Europe.
RTE has been testing the DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) format. The following recordings show the potential of DRM technology for long-distance transmissions to Europe.
Sample 1: Muenster, Germany
The following recordings were made in August 2007, as RTE broadcast a DRM signal on its longwave 252 transmitter. These recordings were made in Muenster, Germany.
(MP3 audio will play in an external media player and may take some time to download)
Sample 2: Radlett, North London
This DRM transmission was also via RTE LW 252. This recording was made near Radlett, North London in the UK.
Recording 1
The clear sound of these samples across the miles
For more information on DRM, visit the DRM Consortium website at DRM.org.
DRM Recordings
Friday, March 21st, 2008Muenster Germany
On the map below are links to recordings of Digital Radio broadcast from Ireland August 2007. The transmission was via the RTE LW 252kHz in Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) which provides a clear signal across Europe. These recordings were made near Muenster Germany.
Broadcast from Ireland received in Muenster Germany here are 4 recordings recording1 recording2 recording3 recording4 (MP3 audio will play in an external media player and may take some time to download)
for larger europe zoomed map click here
Radlett North London
On the map below is a link to a recording of Digital Radio broadcast from Ireland August 2007. The transmission was via the RTE LW 252kHz in Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) which provides a clear signal across Europe. The recording was made near Radlett North London UK. Recorded inside the M25 Radlett North London Recording 1 (MP3 audio will play in an external media player and may take some time to download)
or larger europe zoomed map click here
View Larger Map
Letter highlights MW problems in North
Thursday, March 20th, 2008A letter to the Irish Times highlights the fact that there are problems with the reception of RTE on FM. RTE switched Radio 1 with Lyric FM on the FM dial last week, in an effort to resolve concerns among Northern listeners about the shutdown of medium wave.
The letter says:
Madam, – The report in your edition of March 18th on next week’s planned closure of the RTÉ Radio 1 service on medium wave focused on the effect on Irish emigrants in Britain.
I would like to add the voice of a Northern Ireland resident to the clamour of opposition. Most radios sold today do not have long wave, and sitting by the computer to listen to radio is not ideal or always practical.
Last week RTÉ was trumpeting its solution for Northern Ireland residents – an FM frequency swap which would reach listeners in Belfast and elsewhere and allow us happily to switch from medium wave. The new service started on Friday.
I eagerly searched for it on all four FM radio receivers in my home. Nothing. The medium-wave signal, however, came through as before – a bit crackly, and not really clear enough for listening to music, but perfectly adequate for speech. I went for a drive around Belfast. The FM signal cut in and out at various points around the city; when it was present, it was inferior to the medium wave broadcast.
I drove south, towards the transmitter. Only after I passed Sprucefield, more than 10 miles south of Belfast, could the signal be said to be reliable and acceptable.
I noted from the Irish Newsover the weekend that listeners in the Glens of Antrim, who had been eagerly anticipating the new FM service, were also bitterly disappointed with what was delivered.
Next Sunday I will listen to Sunday Miscellany – for the last time if the current proposals are implemented. RTÉ’s promises to Northern Ireland residents, which were welcomed by us all just a few days ago, have been shown to be empty, hollow words.
Surely this is precisely not the time for RTÉ to diminish its service to Northern Ireland. – Yours, etc,
WILLIAM HANNA,
Kensington Gardens,
Belfast.
See the letter on Ireland.com
See a scanned version of the letter.
