School

of Informatics and Creative Arts

Mind the Gap

A Media Representation of African Immigrants in Ireland and its effects towards
Integration

Author

Henry Kasozi

Supervisor

Glenn Doyle

Table of Contents
1. ABSTRACT

3. LITERATURE REVIEW

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 CONTENT ANALYSIS

4.1.1 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
4.4 INTERVIEWS

8
8
8

5. INTERVIEWS ANALYSIS

10

6. DATA COLLECTION

14

7. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

15

8. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS

26

8.1 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

29

9. CONCLUSION

32

10. REFERENCES

34

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY

35

APPENDIX 1

36

APPENDIX 2

40

1. Abstract
This research is based on the published primary source of the Irish print media
from the online archives representing African immigrants in Ireland.
The study seeks to find out whether the Media Representations of African
Immigrants to Ireland had any effects towards their integration into the Irish
society.
The research has been conducted using a media analysis of the Irish print media
on representation and a use of qualitative methods through interviews.
Results have shown that there was bias in the representing of the Africans in the
Irish newspapers that shaped peoples perceptions of these new comers
however; its the government policy of housing refugees in direct provision
(hostels) for vast periods of time thats proving to be an obstacle towards
integration.

MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF AFRICANS IN IRELAND AND

ITS EFFECTS TOWARDS INTEGRATION

As the great migration story began to unfold in Ireland from the mid
1990s onwards, there was a certain expectation that migrants would be
treated as guests of the nation given Irelands long history under the
rule of colonization and the negative racist treatment of Irish migrants
in various parts of the globe (Fanning and Munck, 2011, p. 12)
The above extract from the book Globalization, Migration, and social
transformation: Ireland in Europe and the world (2012). This book looks at the
immigration in Ireland a reason that has prompted me to write this dissertation
This research study will examine how Irish print media represented African
immigrants who started to arrive in Ireland in large numbers during the peak of the
Celtic tiger, either for work or as asylum seekers. The largest numbers mainly from
Nigeria, as listed on focus-migration.hwwi.de carried out during the 2011 census.
Irish print media represented these new immigrants through the use of strong
stereotypical and inflammatory language.
Six asylum seekers have Hepatitis B
Limerick leader, 26.08.2000, page 1
It is relevant to research about this topic because despite previous research on the
subject matter about Representations of African Immigrants for example professor
Bryan Fanning and Professor Ronald Munk in their book Globalization, Migration,
and social transformation: Ireland in Europe and the world (2012). And Lentin, R. and
Moreo in the book, Migrant activism and integration from below in Ireland (2012).
No further research has been carried out, to try and find out whether these negative
media representations had any effects towards their integration into the Irish society.
This research is going to analyze the newspapers that where printed in Ireland from
the time of the influx in 1996 to 2014.

Media reports can have effects to the people consuming the message and these
could either be psychological or physical.
In the SAGE handbook of media processes and effects (2009), talks about the
different classes of effects that can be achieved by the consumers of the mediated
content
Five classes of media effects on individuals are often considered:
behavioral, attitudinal, cognitive, emotional, and psychological.
Behavioral effects result when a media message consumer performs
some action presented via media. Attitudinal occur when media shape
message consumers opinions, beliefs and values. Cognitive effects are
those that result when media change what consumers think or know.
Emotional effects occur when media produce certain feelings such as
fear, anxiety, or euphoria in message consumers. And physiological
effects are those changes in arousal or other physical bodily reactions
that are derived from media consumption (Nabi and Oliver, 2009, p.

13-14)

3. Literature review
Various scholars have already researched about immigrants that started to arrive in
Ireland in large numbers from the start of 1996. They mention why immigrants in a
way they had not seen before were now targeting Ireland
The period of accelerated capital accumulation in the 1990s, which
became known as the Celtic Tiger, required a greatly increased number of
workers to provide the labor it was based on (Fanning and Munck,

2011, p. 8)
During the same time, non-European immigrants begun to arrive in big numbers
mainly to work and also to seek asylum. (Focus-migration.hwwi.de, 2015)
According to Bignell in his book Media Semiotics, an introduction (2002), he talks
about language as a sign and carries meaning for someone.

Language is the most fundamental and pervasive medium for human

communication(Bignell 2002, p. 6).
The Irish print media has been analyzed before by different researchers in relation the
nature of the language used in representing the African immigrants, Globalization,
migration and social transformation, Ireland in Europe and the world (Fanning and
Muck 2012), Migrant activism and integration from below in Ireland (Lentin and
Moreo 2012).
However, despite the nature of the writing used to represent African Immigrants and
the research from previous writers to prove this, no further research has been
conducted to find out whether these representations had or have any positive or
negative connotations upon the immigrants towards their integration into the Irish
society an area that is of much concern to the Irish government
The over aching question in relation to the new Irish as the immigrants
became known was the issue of their integration into Irish society. The
Irish government urged it would avoid pitfalls of French style assimilation
and British multiculturalism through the promotion of and
interculturalism which lay somewhere in between the two. (Fanning and
Munck 2011, p. 3).
Other literature will involve looking at a textual analysis of the written content. The
way a text is used, and its combination in the creation of meaning to the reader since
we can all derive to different meanings depending on our lived cultures.
For a text to come to life, it requires a reader. Readers activate meaning
of the texts. We come to media texts with sets of expectations and
orientations that shape our readings, but different texts are more or less
open to interpretations (Gillespie, Marie, Tonybee, Jason. 2005, p. 3)
Media discourse is basically anything that is mediated to us, which is not spoken and
can have effects to the consumers. . In this sense it will be the text that is mediated to
us through the newspaper. The book, media discourse: representation and interaction
explains the power of discourse in influencing peoples interpretations of written text.
6

The interpretation of the media in the modern world is incontrovertible

for some sections of society at least; the media have largely replaced
older institutions (such as, the church, or trade unions) as the primary
source of understanding of the world. Since discourse plays a vital role
in constituting peoples realities, the implications for the power and
influences of media discourse are clear (Talbot. 2007, p. 3)
Stuart hall in his book Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying
Process, (1997) looks at how people from the same cultural share the same
conceptual map allowing them to have the same interpretation of sign as a
language

4. METHODOLOGY
This research study is going to analyze newspapers that where printed in
Ireland, reporting about African immigrants from the height of the influx in 1996
-2014 and try to find out whether, these reports had any effects towards the
integration of these new settlers.
For this study, I chose to triangulate, combining both qualitative and quantitative
research. According to the book, Qualitative and Quantitative Research;
The qualitative, naturalistic approach is used when observing and
interpreting reality with the aim of developing a theory that will explain
what was experienced. The quantitative approach is used when one begins
with a theory (or hypothesis) and tests for confirmation or disconfirmation
of that hypothesis. (Newman and Benz, 1998, p. 3).
Other methodologies that can be employed in this research are media discourse,
which basically is anything that is mediated to us either written or spoken through a
broadcast platform

4.1 Content analysis

Content analysis is a research method that uses a set of procedures to make
valid inferences from text. These inferences are about the senders of the
message, the message itself, or the audience of the message (Webber, 1990)
4.1.1 Qualitative Research
This research method will help in finding the answers to the already formulated
question of my dissertation, to confirm or disconfirm whether these negative media
representations of African immigrants in Ireland, had any effects towards integration
into the Irish society.
4.4 Interviews
I conducted a semi-structured interview with Mr. Mbemba Jabbi a director at the
African center in Ireland. This organization is dedicated to the integration of the
African community in Ireland and has been operating for the past fifteen years.
On introducing my self and my research topic, Mr. Mbemba accepted to be
interviewed and I made it clear that the interview will be recorded and later
transcribed for analysis.
The questions where open ended allowing Mr. Mbemba to answer without me
influencing his answers. The questions where set before time, allowing me to
prepare and be confident during the interview.
Using an interview guide, I had questions running in a particular order but also,
allowing me to ask any further questions in case I needed to.
The interview was carried out over the phone due to the geographical location
of Mr. Mbemba who was in African center offices in Dublin. The interview was
recorded using a recording application on the IPad.
The questions where set to find out whether Africans are finding difficulties
integrating into the Irish society. Mr. Mbemba answered to the following
questions.

1. Are Africans integrating into the Irish society?
2. Is the government setting up any measures to help the African/ asylum
seekers integrate into the Irish society?

3. Is the news press helping or hindering the integration of African asylum

seekers?
4. Many asylum seekers spend a lot of time in direct provision/ hostels. On
acceptance to stay, do they get any help in integrating them outside the
hostels and finding jobs?
5. Prior to 2000, asylum seekers where allowed to rent houses. What caused
the introduction of hostels and does this have any effects to African
integration?
6. What is done and what is not being done on helping Africans integrate?
7. Since its inception, does the Africa center find the integration process of
Africans a success story or an area that still requires more attention?

The second interview was by Jonathan Muhwezi a Ugandan national seeking
asylum in Ireland. Jonathan has been in Ireland for the past five years, currently
residing in direct provision (hostel) and also an active member of the End Direct
Provision in Ireland an organization that is fighting for the closure of hostels
hosting asylum seekers in Ireland.
Just as Mr. Mbemba, Jonathans questions where also open ended and prepared
before time. They where conducted over the phone and recorded to for
transcribing.
I chose recording these interviews because this gave me time to listen to the
interviewer rather than concentrating on writing/typing the answers, which
would have led to lose of some information.
The reason for choosing the above for interviewing was simply because of the
nature of the work they both do. Mr. Mbemba is basically trying to help African
integrate, so he basically would have relative information on what the loopholes
are.
Interviewing Mr. Muhwezi is important for the research because he is a refugee
who will give insight of what he goes through living in Ireland. He is also an
active member of the organization that is fighting to end the hosting of asylum
seekers in direct provision, this will helps set ground on understanding the day
to day lives of asylum seekers before they are granted permission to stay in
Ireland

I used an Ipad to record his interview, which I transcribed for further analysis.
The questions where

1. When did you come to Ireland?
2. How long have you been in the hostels?
3. Are there any measures set up to help you integrate in the community you
live in?
4. Do you think the people have a positive or negative attitude towards
asylum seekers?
5. Do you think the press in Ireland is helping or hindering the settlement of
asylum seekers?
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?

5. Interviews analysis
The interviews of Mr. Mbemba and Mr. Muhwezi both had similarities that where
broken down into 4 themes, Isolation, training, accommodation and closure of
reception centers
These themes where developed due to the most talked about topics of the
interview and parts that both participants had more concern

Isolation

During the interview, Mr. Mbemba focused a lot on the point of the isolation of
the asylum seekers from the Irish public. He totally rejects the idea of confining
people into direct provision.

Its actually isolation so the asylum system when you talk about
that, thats not part of integration its actually isolation because that
was proposed planned to isolate people who are in the system they
dont have chances to go out, their not, they dont have
opportunities to be employed they dont mix with any other people
except people in the asylum process, except people who have other

10

friends outside or they are actually making there own integration

(Mbemba, 2015)

Mr. Jonathan Muhwezi during his interview confirms to the isolation that they go
through living in direct provision. He explains,

We do not have a chance to integrate in the community because
of the draconian measures that where introduced where by we
have to sign everyday, there is roll call everyday so if you do miss
a roll call for any reason whatsoever probably if you are not in
the hostel for one night, then you get transferred from that
accommodation center to a different center and these centers are
usually hundreds of kilometers away. So, you get uprooted from
where youve been so you lose all the connections youve made
all the contacts youve made in that particular area, all the
friendships youve established. So in that way it is very hard for
us to integrate and assimilate and another thing is we are not
allowed visitors in some of these centers visitors are not allowed
so there is no way we can bring our families or our friends to
come and visit us. So you find things like that affect our
integration as well (Muhwezi, 2015)

This is a clear explanation of how the government is not working towards
integration of Africans through the measures taken in housing them in Direct
Provision hence being isolated away from the Irish culture and people

Training

Both participants mentioned training as an important part in both the
integration of the refugees and as a means to equip them with life skills to
acquire jobs after the asylum process.
Mr. Mbemba mentions the importance of education as a major role in equipping
the asylum seekers with life skills to prepare them for employment.

11

We want to go beyond activities, we want to go into policies, how

do we change policies, how do we give these people training and
independence skills, how can they set up businesses when they
actually leave the asylum process, to prepare them, how can they
actually get third level education. These are some of the things that
we where actually thinking of doing, but then we couldnt do it as
organization because we like confronted with funding issues and
there is no mechanism to give funding to organization like
ourselves. (Mbemba, 2015)

Mr. Muhwezi mentions the same thing when it comes to education, the asylum
seekers to be given the necessary skills required to get jobs.

Another thing we have been talking about is access to education.
Asylum seekers do not have access to third level qualification of
education; the only courses available are English lessons and
computer lessons for beginners. A lot of people come here with
qualifications; we have highly qualified individuals, (Muhwezi,
2015)

Accommodation

Both interviews talked about accommodation. Mr. Mbemba feels like the idea of
placing four grown men in the same room and at certain time with children too,
deprives these people of privacy. He termed these hostels as Open prisons

Like four people sleeping in the same house, there is no even
privacy. I call it an open prison honestly; in my own words I call it
an open prison. (Mbemba, 2015)

Mr. Muhwezi who is currently living in Open prison as Mr. Mbemba stated, has
strong views about this isolation he mentions the differences in cultures and the
conflicts that might arise because of this.

12

There is a lot of physical and verbal abuse in these systems you

know, and people are housed in some centers they are eight people
in a room you see. We have to bear in mind that we come from
different backgrounds, we have different cultures and traditions
and different religion. There is bound to be conflict, eight people
are sharing a room for eight to ten years, there is bound to be
conflict. (Muhwezi, 2015)

He also stresses out the idea that these hostels have no services directed to kids
who are in the asylum system with their parents. The same treatment directed
towards the adults, is the same treatment towards the kids for example the idea
that none of them is allowed to have visitors. He further stresses the need of
protection for the kids when he mentions the abuse going on in these hostels.

Another thing is there is no provisions for children you know,
children born in the asylum system do not have the privileges as
children who are born out there as Irish children. So we have to
have services directed to children. There have been incidences of
child abuse and sexual abuse in some of these centers, the children
in these centers have no space to play, they dont have access to
internet, obviously their friends are not allowed to come and visit.
And you find that some of the children in these centers do share the
bathrooms and toilets with adults. (Muhwezi, 2015)

Closure of detention centers

Mr. Mbemba strongly agrees to the closure of this asylum holding centers that he
thinks are hindering the integration of these asylum seekers into the Irish
society. He reckons that, once people are labeled, then this has negative effects
towards their day-to-day lives

The moment you put them in the reception center, everyone knows
that any one who walks in through that door, through that house

13

that he is actually an asylum seeker. You see that is something that

is very negative but before, you can live with people in the
community, you are paying your rent, you are eating food, you are
going in and out in the day, you have access to everything, who is
saying you are an asylum seeker or not. (Mbemba, 2015)

Mr. Muhwezi has strongly believes that the holding of asylum seekers in
direct provision has and will continue to have effects to these people
when they leave the hostels. He mentions about the loss of motivation
because they are not allowed to work for long

The system will have to re train, they have to up skill and its very
hard to get that transition form being dormant, not working for ten
years for you to have left that transition to start working. And
another thing is obviously after spending so many years in the
hostel without having access to work, access to education, this
affects people. Their mental health is affected because there is no
mental stimulation, people are being institutionalized, we have a lot
people who have got mental health issues in the hostels and those
issues are not addressed. We do not have psychiatric help in the
centers that would deal with people who have mental health issues
(Muhwezi, 2015)

6. Data collection

The study involved collecting newspapers that reported about the African immigrants.
I searched through the Dublin public library database/archives, using the key terms
African, Asylum seeker and Refugee. The following newspapers came up with reports
that where stereotypical and defamatory.

Irish Independent

Munster Express

14

Southern Star

Kerryman

Sunday Independent

Mayo News

City Tribune

Longford Leader

Connacht Tribune

Kerryman North Edition

7. Discourse analysis

Discourse analysis examines the patterns of language across texts and considers the
relationship between language and the social and cultural contexts in which it is used.
Discourse analysis also considers the ways that the use of language presents different
views of the world and different understandings. It examines how the use of language
is influenced by relationships between participants as well as the effects the use of
language has upon social identities and relations. It also considers how views of the
world, and identities, are constructed through the use of discourse. (Paltridge, 2012
pg.13-14)
The newspaper reports where analyzed and reviewed, looking for most occurring
concepts and categories in the data that represents the test question. The data was then
generated into codes that had the similar themes for a thematic analysis. It comprises
the definition of the most recurrent or the most important (based on the specific
question being answered or the theoretical position of the receiver) issues or themes
arising in a body of evidence (Pope, Mays and Popay, 2007)
This discourse study is going to look at the language the media used in the portrayal
of the African immigrants and how the writer might use language in influencing
peoples decisions and interpretation of the message.
Human communication is the vehicle for political and social thought,
debate and action. Language serves as the agent of social interaction: as
the channel for the transmission of values: and as the glue that bond

15

people, ideas, and society together. Language, therefore, is a very active

and creative process that does not reflect an objective reality but creates
a reality by organizing meaningful perceptions abstracted from complex
world. Language becomes a mediating force that actively shapes ones
interpretation of the environment (Denton, 2006, p. 4)

The generation retrieved 5 themes that fell under the following categories:
1. Financial burden to the state
2. Violent
3. Influx
4. Fraudsters
5. Infected

Financial burden to the state

This theme was formed because of the frequent newspaper reports about excessive
government spending towards the housing, feeding, medical, and also the deportation
of failed asylum seekers. An example is an excerpt from the Irish independent
Charters sought to deport asylum seekers,
04/01/2005 pg.5
According to the reporter of this article, the use of terms such as charter basically
referring to renting an entire private airplane to deport individual asylum seekers
would basically pave the readers mind in thinking the asylum seekers are living a
luxurious life even during deportation, mentioning the 1.4 million euros spent in 2004
on deportation.
More articles appeared in different newspapers with headlines showing the financial
burden the government is going through to contain the rising number of refugees with
high figures of euros that have been spent and more to be spent.
Housing and payout for asylum seekers
Comes to 80m

16

Asylum seekers straining maternity hospitals

Irish Independent, 24.01.2003, page 95
Irish Independent, 17.01.2001, page 6

Asylum seekers well fed

Kerryman 29.11.2001, page 3
Failed asylum seekers appeals cost 10
Irish Independent 22.11.2010, page 4
Laptop broadband for asylum seekers
Munster Express 21.05.2010, page 11
Refugees housed in hotels as crowding crisis mounts
Irish Independent 17.03.98, page1
83m bill to house asylum seekers
Irish Independent 01.12.2008, page 8
Asylum seekers claim over 30,000 a month in supplementary payments
Connacht Tribune 05.02.2010, page 10
50pc of asylum seekers now get welfare
Irish Independent, 16.10.2000, page 16
Asylum seekers will continue to stay at a Salthill hotel
Connacht Sentinel 22.08.2006, page 8
Board spent 6m-plus on asylum seeker aid
Irish Independent, 25.07.2002,page 4
16m bill for asylum seekers bed and board
17

Irish Independent, 03,07,1998, page 1

State paid firm 89m to house asylum seekers
Irish Independent, 20,02,2013, page 13
False claims help bill for asylum seekers to hit 300m
Sunday Independent, 04,05,2008, page 8
Cash plea for hard up asylum seekers
Irish Independent, 21.06.2007, page 12
Asylum seekers bill over 2m
Kilkenny people, 17.10.2003, page 1
Rise in housing spend for asylum seekers, audit reveals
Irish Independent, 02.10.2007, page 9
Cut in asylum seeker figures but housing bill rises 13m
Irish Independent, 27.10.2008, page 10
Translators needed for refugees
Kerryman, 29.03.2001, page 17
Under pressure from refugee needs
Irish Independent, 30.05.1997, page 11
Asylum seekers need faster access to city psychological services
Connacht Sentinel, 07.08.2007, page 9
50 per week rent for asylum seekers Corpo
Connacht Tribune, 01.12.2000, page 5
Asylum home for in affluent Dublin
Irish Independent, 28.03.2000, page 5
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Reports like these will change almost any ones perception of immigrants. They bring
forward the idea that these new incomers are getting everything free which wouldnt
have a positive image to the hard working Irish citizen who pays his tax and its
directed towards giving asylum seekers accommodation in Affluent Dublin homes.
Violent

This theme came up because newspapers often referred to the Immigrants behavior as
that not acceptable in Ireland. It did not mention people as individuals but as a group
of people.
Asylum seeker cut four baby goats throats
Irish independent. 05.07.2013, page22

The Muslim group of people carries out this practice as a religious offering, but the
heading of the Irish Independent labeled them as asylum seekers, which would pass
on as a thing thats practiced by all African immigrants
More articles of violence did appear in different newspapers such as
Asylum seekers angry at being placed on voting register
City Tribune, 05.06.2009, page 7

Mentally ill expelled from centers end up on streets

Irish Independent, 27.10.2008, page 10
Influx

This theme was the most common one, reporting the constant arrival of African
Refugees. Newspaper reports constantly used statistical values to represent the
numbers that where to arrive in certain areas, numbers residing in an area and the
weight on some government institutions such as the hospitals, and housing
shortage. Terms like, set to increase and expected where constantly used.
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Asylum seekers in west, set to increase

Mayo news, 24/12/1999, page 1
Numbers of asylum seekers locally jumped
From 249 to 1,115 in less than two years
Munster express, 15.08.2003, page 2
Asylum seekers arrive
Kerryman, 17.12.1999, page 56
Asylum seekers in west set to increase
Mayo news, 29.12.1999, page 1
More asylum seekers before Christmas
Longford Leader, 27.10.2000, page 39
Refugees increase has led to racism
Irish Independent, 08.05.1998, page 9
2000 Asylum seekers in west
Connacht Tribune, 11.10.2002, page 27
Number of asylum seekers in west is set for an increase
Health Board told
Connacht Tribune, 10.12.1999, page 24
Rise in asylum seekers jumping tracks at ports
Irish Independent, 22.06.2007
Asylum seekers relocate in Southeast
Munster Express, 03.12.1999, page 2
Two hundred asylum seekers to be located
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In Eyre square Hostel

City Tribune, 15.09.2000, page 1
Kerry to take in up to 400 more asylum seekers
Kerryman, 31.03.2003, page 52
The move by the government to bring in flotels, or
Floating hotels, to provide accommodation for the tide
Of asylum seekers now flowing into this country
Kerryman, 31.03.2000, page 7
Asylum seekers and refuge in Longford town
Longford Leader, 17.12.1999, page 1
Asylum seekers arrive in Donegal
Donegal news, 14.01.2000, page 14
City shows 30% jump in asylum seekers
City Tribune, 11.04.2008, page 15
New restrictions curb flow of asylum seekers
Irish Independent, 02.03.2005, page 4
Tralee has more asylum seekers than Cork
Kerryman, 14.01.2000, page 69
There are less than 40 asylum seekers in Galway at the moment all
In the city- but this number is expected to increase
City Tribune, 10.12.1999,page 13
314 asylum seekers now in west
Tuam Herald, 16.09.2000, page 17
Majority of North West asylum seekers
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Living in Donegal-Health Board

Donegal News, 20.06.2003, page 7
Asylum seekers hit 1,000 a month record
Irish Independent, 29.10.1999, page 6
More asylum seekers coming
Kerryman, 21.04.2000, page 53
More asylum seekers expected as Nigerians arrive in Gweedore
Donegal news, 14.01.2000, page 1
Kerry has one of the highest quotas of asylum seekers
Kerryman, 11.02.2000, page 50
Asylum seekers in Portlaw by late August
Munster Express, 07.07.2000, page 15
48 asylum seekers in Westmeath
Westmeath Examiner, 30.09.2000, page 5
Demand on curb on tide of refugees
Irish Independent, 29.05.1997, page 1
Refugee flood to spark home crisis, report warns
Irish Independent, 12.06.1997, page 1
If the newspapers all they constantly publish about Africa Immigrants are figures to
show strain on the country, this is bound to create a media panic amongst the citizens
who look for answers through the media
Fraudsters

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This theme came up a lot because the mention of Illegal working, welfare cheats by
several newspapers.
Nigerian welfare scammers spur for immigration bill
Sunday Independent. 03/12/1999 page 1
Welfare fraudsters among deported asylum seekers
Irish Independent, 21.09.2006, page 15
Revealed: identity scam of failed asylum seekers
Irish Independent, 21.05.2012, page 8
25m scam by asylum seekers uncovered
Irish Independent, 31.01.2007, page 1
One in four asylum seekers disappears after applying
Irish Independent, 12.05.2008, page 12
Algerian asylum seeker used a false ID to earn 131,000 as a laborer
Connacht Tribune, 12.10.2012, page 12
Missing asylum seekers making mockery of system
Irish independent, 09.11.2007, page 6
The labeling of a group of people by one individual act is bound to tarnish their name
and their settling into the their new communities. No one will associate with you if
you are labeled as a scam. More so since asylum seekers werent allowed to work,
this creates problem due to the shortage of funds to cater for their wellbeing and this
leads to working illegally or engaging in illegal activities such as scamming
Infected

This theme did not come up a lot but I found it interesting from the nature of its report
due to its stereotypical nature.

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Asylum seekers may face compulsory health tastes

Irish Independent. 07/01/2001 page 1
HSE urged to carry out health screening of city asylum seekers
City Tribune, 18.04.2008, page 13
Six asylum seekers have Hepatitis B
Limerick leader, 26.08.2000, page 1
Condoms for asylum seekers
Irish independent, 03.04.2008, page 15
The majority of asylum seekers arriving here are from Eastern Europe and Africa,
areas where there is a high rate of serious, communicable diseases including HIV, TB,
and Hepatitis, as well as syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases
Irish Independent, 14.08.2001, page 29

Liars

This theme was made up due to the newspapers constantly quoting government
representatives on the issue that asylum seekers where not genuine and most of them
where using the soft Irish immigration laws to enter the country.
Four out of five asylum seekers lie about where they are from
Irish independent, 22.12.08 page 9
McDowell rubbishes tall stories of some asylum seekers
Irish Independent, 19.05.2005, page 5
Majority of bogus asylum seekers are not deported
Irish independent, 05.01.2008, page 17

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The graph below shows the number of times mentions where made by various papers
on different subjects. It was carried out from 66 different pieces of newspapers, local
and national.
Newspaper

Financial Violent

Influx

Fraudsters Liars

Sick

burden
Kerryman

1x

Irish

11x

7x
1x

8x

6x

4x

4x

independent
Munster

1x

4x

Express
1x

3x

1x

City
Tribune
Mayo News
Connacht

1x
1x

4x

1x

Tribune
Southern

1x

Star
Longford

1x

Leader
Westmeath

1x

Examiner
Donegal

1x

2x

News
Tuam

2x

Herald
Sunday

1x

Independent

25

According to research, it has become clear to see that the Irish Independent
Newspaper had the most negative reported stories about the African Immigrants and
Sunday independent having the least

8. Findings and discussions

This research study prompted me to collect newspapers that reported about African
immigrants to Ireland. I interviewed Mr. Mbemba who works for the African center in
Dublin as well as Mr. Muhwezi who is an asylum seeker from Uganda living in direct
provision in Limerick. The data collection and responses from the interviews helped
in answering my test question whether the media representation of African
immigrants in Ireland had any effects towards their integration.
The agenda of the news media becomes to a considerable degree, the
agenda of the public. In other words, the media largely set the public
agenda (McCombs, 2014)
The media in its role as an agenda setter, played a part in shaping peoples beliefs of
who the asylum seekers where and what impact they had on Ireland. They played a

26

role in creating panic among the citizens with the type of language they used most of
the texts referring to them as not wanting to work, and influx.

A headline in the Kerryman north edition newspaper dated 26.05.2005, page 59 stated
Strong views on asylum seekers plan this all came about due to government plan to
house 60 new asylum seekers in Killarney. A Killarney resident Mr. Dennis Coffey is
quoted saying
I dont think they should be coming. Killarney just seems to be a
popular resort for them. They cant work, and they have everything
given to them. I think the government should be looking after the
people who live in Killarney not looking after the asylum seekers, he
said (Coffey, Kerryman North Edition, 25.05.2005, p. 59)
It is clear to see that Mr. Coffeys perception of asylum seekers and the large numbers
of them living in Killarney which is a town in County Kerry, is shaped by media
panic reports that appeared in the Kerryman newspaper. A reference he uses to state
there is enough asylum seekers in Killarney already
A newspaper article that appeared in the Kerryman clearly states how the county is
being targeted by asylum seekers and having the largest number in the country
Kerry has one of the highest quotas of asylum seekers
Kerryman, 11.02.2000, page 50
The report shapes county Kerry residents on how they will treat the arrival of these
asylum seekers in the county. They keep referring to, the overpopulation of their town
by these asylum seekers.
Other concerns from local residents of Killarney
They just come into the country and expect everything to be given to
them for free. We need to clampdown on the numbers before we have a

27

similar situation to what happened to London (Suzanne, Kerryman

North Edition, 25.05.2005, P. 59)
I worked in England in the 1970s and I got nothing for free. Nobody
helped me out. Asylum seekers come here and they sit inside in a room.
They have mobile phones and cars. Look at the Irish doing shite jobs to
pat for them. I have to work hard for my wage yet if I want to got to the
doctor it will cost me 50 but the asylum seekers can go to the doctor
for free (Jarlath, Kerryman North Edition, 25.05.2005, p. 59)
I think we have more than enough asylum seekers. They should be
distributed to other towns in Ireland. Killarney has its fair there is a
danger they will over run the place (Anonymous, Kerryman North
Edition, 25.05.2005, p. 59)
It would be okay if they where allowed to work but they are not. We
obviously do not have the facilities for them when our hotels are being
bought to accommodate them. I think there are too many asylum
seekers in Killarney. There are people sleeping rough in the town they
should be looked at first (Guerin, Kerryman North Edition, 25.05.2005,
P. 59)
From all the six participants who allowed to be interviewed on the day about the 60
asylum seekers arriving, 5 people all where against the arrival of more asylum seekers
with only one participant Carmel Mann who was not concerned about there arrival
and was quoted saying
She believed asylum seekers should be allowed to work and she said
she was not overly concerned about the arrival of 60 new asylum
seekers to Killarney (Mann, Kerryman North Edition, 25.05.2005, P.
59)

28

8.1 Letters to the editor

The people reacted to different headlines and expressed their views by writing to
editors of the newspapers. Gillespie in her book, Analyzing Media Texts mentions
that some media texts may try to express a clear message or a dominant meaning.
Ferdinand De Saussure looks at language as sign and through its interpretation we get
meaning. The signifier, which is the actual text and the signified, which is the idea,
that develops in your mind in other words your interpretation of the sign, which could
vary according to our lived cultures
There is no natural or inevitable link between the signifier and
signified. Signs do not posses a fixed or essential meaning (Hall, 1997,
p. 31)
A letter that appeared in the Irish independent dated 08.03.200 on page 33 shows a
concerned Irish citizen who is replying to the article that appeared in the Kerryman
newspaper. The move by the government to bring in flotels, or Floating hotels, to
provide accommodation for the tide of asylum seekers now flowing into this country
(Kerryman, 31.03.2000, P. 7)
This article appears under the headline, Asylum seekers flouting the Geneva
Convention. He goes on to say
The consequences of this abuse are visible to us everyday as we see a
never-ending flow of asylum seekers to Ireland. The numbers looked at
in isolation initially look small. However, the problem is more acute
here than in any other European country (Richard Ashton, Malahide,
Co Dublin)
Another letter appeared in the Irish Independent where a concerned Irish citizen
responding to his understanding of the refuges and their role in the Irish society. It is
clear to see that his concerns and his beliefs where shaped by the media reports of the
matter.
For example the publications in the Irish Independent Connacht Tribune and Sentinel,
labels the asylum seekers as bogus, benefit scroungers, and a burden.
29

McDowell rubbishes tall stories of some asylum seekers

Irish Independent, 19.05.2005, page 5

Asylum seekers will continue to stay at a Salthill hotel

Connacht Sentinel 22.08.2006, page 8
Asylum seekers claim over 30,000 a month in supplementary payments
Connacht Tribune 05.02.2010, page 10
Asylum seekers straining maternity hospitals
Irish Independent, 24.01.2003, page 95
Looking at the headlines that appeared in the Irish Independent date 19.06.1998, page
33. Refugees living off good nature of Irish people Mr. Liam White of Dublin
writes to the editor agreeing to a letter that was written before by Mr. MacAogain.
I would like to say am in total agreement with this man about the
Refugees coming to Ireland. Personally speaking I dont think there is
any comparison between these so called refuges coming here and our
emigrants that went to America. Our emigrants had to work and there
was no such thing as the EHB putting them in apartments, there was no
dole money for them, there was no medical care for them (Liam White,
Dublin 1)
We see people sharing the same views from the letters written to the editor and this is
because they are from the same culture, which makes them interpret, and get meaning
from language in almost similar ways. Stuart hall refers to this as belonging to the
same conceptual map.
To belong to a culture is to belong to roughly the same conceptual and
linguistic universe, to know how concepts and ideas work translate into
different languages, and how language can interpret to refer to o
reference the world. To share these things is to see the world from the
30

same conceptual map and to make sense of it through the same

language system (Hall, 1997, P. 22)

Interviews
On analyzing the interview with Mr. Mbemba its clear to see that the integration
policy is not smooth going. He however, does not blame the media reports for
this failing but more of a plan by the government to keep this segregation
between the Irish people and the African immigrants by housing them in direct
provision centers he called open prisons

Well, the whole thing is that the asylum system is actually eh not a
system that is encouraging integration. Its actually isolation so the
asylum system when you talk about that, thats not part of
integration its actually isolation because that was proposed
planned to isolate people who are in the system they dont have
chances to go out, their not, they dont have opportunities to be
employed they dont mix with any other people except people in
the asylum process except people who have other friends outside
or they are actually making there own integration. (Mbemba, 2015)

Mr. Muhwezi also concurs with Mr. Mbemba that yes, there is a lack of
integration between the African community and the Irish, which he also blames
it on the government failings of encouraging mixing of the asylum seekers and
the general public.

We do not have a chance to integrate in the community because of
the draconian measures that where introduced where by we have
to sign everyday, there is roll call everyday so if you do miss a roll
call for any reason whatsoever probably if you are not in the hostel
for one night then you get transferred from that accommodation
center to a different center and these centers are usually hundreds
of kilometers away. So, you get uprooted from where youve been
so you lose all the connections youve made all the contacts youve

31

made in that particular area, all the friendships youve established.

So in that way it is very hard for us to integrate and assimilate and
another thing is we are not allowed visitors in some of these
centers visitors are not allowed so there is no way we can bring our
families or our friends to come and visit us. So you find things like
that affect our integration as well (Muhwezi, 2015)

Mr. Muhwezi even when asked the question about press in Ireland is helping or
hindering the settlement of asylum seekers he mentioned that

I think over the past six months, the press have gotten involved in
our plight and we do appreciate because now they have given us a
platform to voice our concerns there and they are helping us a lot
especially the Irish Times you know, they have been advocating for
the humane treatment of asylum seekers. RTE has gotten involved
and the local press. Yap I think they are really helping us in that
aspect

9. Conclusion
Despite the press in Ireland reporting stereotypical and defamatory headlines
about the African refugees and playing a part in influencing peoples perceptions
about them as we have seen in earlier chapters, its become known according to
this research that the biggest obstacle in the integration of Africans in Ireland is
the government policy of housing them in hostels for long periods of time which
affects the ability for them to interact with the Irish people and also embracing
the Irish culture. This leaves these people only making friends with fellow
Africans and building relations with only people of the same kind which when
later on after they are granted refuge status and they have to leave these hostels,
they find a problem feeling part of the Irish culture they didnt embrace during
their stay. Its also not helping when government ministers who are supposedly
supposed to educate the people about refugees, start labeling them in the press

32

as Bogus and liars this will definitely confirm to what the press is reporting
and in general the public opinion will be shaped too.
I think if the integration process was to be a success in Ireland, it has to start
from when the Africans just arrive in Ireland, encouraging them to embrace the
Irish culture, making it part of their new story rather than leaving them to stay in
isolation for long periods and then releasing them to the streets to integrate into
society

33

10. References

(OMI), T. (2015). Home - Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration.

[online] Integration.ie. Available at: http://www.integration.ie [Accessed 9
Apr. 2015].
Focus-migration.hwwi.de, (2015). Focus-Migration: Ireland. [Online] Available
at: http://focus-migration.hwwi.de/Ireland.6269.0.html?&L=1 [Accessed 4
Feb. 2015].

34

11. Bibliography

Berger, A. (1982). Media analysis techniques. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Bignell, J. (2002). 2nd ed. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Denton, R. (2004). Language, symbols, and the media. New Brunswick, N.J.:
Transaction Publishers.
Fanning, B. and Munck, R. (2011). Globalization, migration and social
transformation. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate.
Gillespie, M. and Toynbee, J. (2006). Analyzing media texts. Maidenhead, Berkshire,
England: Open University Press in association with the Open University.
Hall, S. (1997). Representation. London: Sage in association with the Open
University.
Lentin, R. and Moreo, E. (2012). Migrant activism and integration from below in
Ireland. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
McCombs, M. (2015). Setting the Agenda: Mass Media and Public Opinion. 2nd ed.
John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Nabi, R. and Oliver, M. (2009). The SAGE handbook of media processes and effects.
Los Angeles: SAGE.

Newman, I. and Benz, C. (1998). Qualitative-quantitative research methodology.

Carbondale, Ill.: Southern Illinois University Press.
Paltridge, B. (2012). Discourse analysis. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Pope, C., Mays, N. and Popay, J. (2007). Synthesizing qualitative and quantitative
health evidence. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press, McGraw Hill
Education.
Talbot, M. (2007). Media discourse. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Weber, R. (n.d.). Basic Content Analysis.

35

Appendix 1

Introduce your self if you dont mind

Jonathan

My name is Jonathan Muhwezi I am from Uganda and I have been in the direct
provision system for five years

Henry kasozi

For five years, thats actually the question I was going to start with, to ask you
like how long youve been in the hostels but youve basically explained that you
have been five years in the hostels

Jonathan
Ya

Henry
Ok. And are there any measures set out to help you integrate in the community
you live in

Jonathan
Ah no there is nothing like that, its one of the issues we are facing in the direct
provision centers. First and foremost I have to say that we do believe, the UN,
amnesty international and all the organizations that are involved with the
asylum seekers that system is not fit for the purpose for various reasons

We do not have a chance to integrate in the community because of the draconian
measures that where introduced where by we have to sign everyday, there is roll

36

call everyday so if you do miss a roll call for any reason whatsoever probably if
you are not in the hostel for one night then you get transferred from that
accommodation center to a different center and these centers are usually
hundreds of kilometers away. So, you get uprooted from where youve been so
you lose all the connections youve made all the contacts youve made in that
particular area, all the friendships youve established. So in that way it is very
hard for us to integrate and assimilate and another thing is we are not allowed
visitors in some of these centers visitors are not allowed so there is no way we
can bring our families or our friends to come and visit us. So you find things like
that affect our integration as well

Henry
Ah, ok. And do you think the people have positive or negative towards asylum
seekers?

Jonathan
Ah, no, yeah they do have a negative attitude towards asylum seekers because
they think we are here for the social basically they say we abuse the system
which is not the case because obviously people we dont intend to leave our
homes to come to this place. There so many reasons what people seek asylum,
most people are being persecuted, some people are coming from war zones. So
its not by choice that we come here. The general feeling, the general settlement
out there is that asylum seekers are here for economic reasons which is not the
case

Henry
Ok, and do you think the press in Ireland is helping or hindering the settlement
of asylum seekers

Jonathan
I think over the past six months, the press have gotten involved in our plight and
we do appreciate because now they have given us a platform to voice our
concerns there and they are helping us a lot especially the Irish Times you know,

37

they have been advocating for the humane treatment of asylum seekers. RTE has
gotten involved and the local press. Yap I think they are really helping us in that
aspect

Henry
Thats very good so am is there any thing else you would like to add that you
think is very important that I have missed out

Jonathan
Yes ya mmm, I want to talk about the direct provision system because I am very
passionate about this, I have been advocating for the closure we have been
advocating for the closure. The Irish refugee council Doras Luimni which is a
local organization involved with the assimilation and integration of asylum
seekers in Limerick here, we have Amnesty international and the UN, we do
believe that the system is not fit for purpose. The direct provision system you
know has a lot of flows and it has to be amended or overhauled. The ministry of
justice did appoint a working group last year to look at ways of which to improve
the system because initially the system was meant to house asylum seekers for a
period of six months and that is not the case because a lot of people who have
been for ten years, eight years me myself I have been here for five years and I
consider myself being lucky because five years is a short period of time
compared to the duration of time other people have been living here. You see,
the staff and management of these centers are not trained enough to deal with
people coming from different backgrounds. They have to have the proper
training because you see, asylum seekers are vulnerable, they should be
categorized as vulnerable people so that they get proper services directed to
vulnerable people, which is not the case. There is no training; there is a lot of
physical and verbal abuse in these systems you know, and people are housed in
some centers they are eight people in a room you see. We have to bear in mind
that we come from different backgrounds, we have different cultures and
traditions and different religion. There is bound to be conflict, eight people are
sharing a room for eight to ten years, there is bound to be conflict.

38

Another thing is there is no provisions for children you know, children born in
the asylum system do not have the privileges as children who are born out there
as Irish children. So we have to have services directed to children. There have
been incidences of child abuse and sexual abuse in some of these centers, the
children in these centers have no space to play, they dont have access to
internet, obviously their friends are not allowed to come and visit. And you find
that some of the children in these centers do share the bathrooms and toilets
with adults.
We also have an issue with the food. I know it is very hard to cater for
everybodys palate because people have got different tastes and palate but you
know the food, which is being provided in these hostels, is below standard. And
this wouldnt have been an issue if you spent six months in a hostel but if you are
going to spend ten years in the hostel, obviously thats going to be a problem.

Another thing we have been talking about is access to education. Asylum seekers
do not have access to third level qualification of education; the only courses
available are English lessons and computer lessons for beginners. A lot of people
come here with qualifications; we have highly qualified individuals, asylum
seekers and refugees who dont have a chance to go out there and work because
they are not allowed to work.
And in the duration of the time you spend in the direct provision center they do
lose their skills. The system will have to re train, they have to up skill and its
very hard to get that transition form being dormant not working for ten years for
you to have left that transition to start working. And another thing is obviously
after spending so many years in the hostel without having access to work, access
to education, this affects people.
Their mental health is affected because there is no mental stimulation, people
are being institutionalized, we have a lot people who have got mental health
issues in the hostels and those issues are not addressed. We do not have
psychiatric help in the centers that would deal with people who have mental
health issues

Henry

39

That is very good, I really appreciate you participation, thank you very much

Jonathan
You are welcome

Appendix 2


Henry,

Ah ok ammmm, I realized you African center in Dublin amm you are dealing
with integration and my very first question would be, are Africans really
integrating into the Irish society

Mr. Bemba

Yeah I think I have to confer ah because like look, we dont have a choice we have
to, and then, the first thing is Africans are integrating at different levels amm, in
terms of education because our courses, the courses we have on our continent
most of them are not recognized here so, first is that we are actually confronted
by that and Africans are going to schools In, in in Ireland to get recognized eh
intellectually,

Henry
Aha

Mr. Bemba

Amm Even though we have lot of eh eh like education background most of the
Africans here ah have their first degree before coming to Ireland but the degrees
are not recognized and I think one thing that we want, the people are doing is
first of all is to engage in the education system to get their degrees, post graduate
qualification like masters and PhDs and thats the first thing Africans are doing

40

in terms of recognition in the education em em institutions and the older people.

But the young generation as well our children are going to school and thats
where thy are meeting their friends eh in terms of going through the education
system

Henry

Ok

Mr. Bemba

Africans are also eh important in so many groups eh like the GAA football
association through their children, school committee. Eh at community level
Africans are doing Emmm work as well and people are setting businesses where
by they actually not only eh setting up businesses but they are also employer. So
with the employer, they are creating a form of integration. But I think Africans
are doing that but there is a lot of challenges also in terms of integration of
Africans here which there is a lot of set back but your question is that whether
we are actually integrating, yes we are but I dont think its eh at expectation or at
a level that we expect to be integrated here so there still some challenges along
the way

Henry

Very good, very. Ok amm but is the government trying to set up any measures to
help the Africans; the asylum seekers integrate into the Irish society

Mr. Bemba

Well, the whole thing is that the asylum system is actually eh not a system that is
encouraging integration. Its actually isolation so the asylum system when you
talk about that, thats not part of integration its actually isolation because that
was proposed planned to isolate people who are in the system they dont have

41

chances to go out, their not, they dont have opportunities to be employed they
dont mix with any other people except people in the asylum process except
people who have other friends outside or they are actually making there own
integration but they cant work, but they take their children to school they meet
with other families or they meet with people in town and they come to places
like ourselves they have a conversation of how they are going through and things
like that.
But the asylum process in itself its discouraging integration so thats what the
government, the government is not actually doing integrate, they are doing that
to actually stop the integration process so thats a discouragement the asylum
process and the eh definite need to reform its self and they are not willing to do
that at the moment
The statutory that even the minister em committee that was set up to look into
the asylum process, I dont know if there is any Africans involved in that
committee, they might be some migrant involved but I dont, I dont see a
nomination of an African there but even if they are there, you see like are they
the ones who are actually speaking on behalf of the asylum seekers.
If there are any asylum seekers that have been nominated for that committee
who actually would be speaking for the asylum eh seeker as well and also when
you talk about the asylum seeker the say to you that ok its not only Africans who
are in the asylum process.
If you look at the numbers, I think its eeh I might get this wrong but probably in
your research you can look into it but its probably six thousand, over six
thousand who are in the asylum process but you see to it that ehh like ehh I
would definitely I am pretty sure about it like 80% of the asylum seekers here or
in the reception centers they constitute 90% of them are Africans. So you dont
even see some of the people who are listed on the asylum process, the asylum
seekers, they are not in the asylum centers I dont know, I dont see a lot of
Chinese there, I dont see a lot of Latin Americans, they are also some eastern
Europeans I dont actually see them at asylum centers so where are they? This is
the question that I think we need to ask the government about the whole detail
thats going on with the asylum process.

42

Henry

Very good and am is the news like media like newspapers helping or hindering
the integration of the Africans and asylum seekers in Ireland

Mr. Bemba

Well you see the news In Ireland has along history ehh you have to understand
how Irish people know about Africa first of all emm I always when they say that
Ireland has never colonized a country but I say, I always turn back and say I
think Ireland has been a colonizer in terms of religion because there is so many
Irish priests that have been going to African countries and I think it is a not in a
bad way of spreading religion to African countries so and those people coming
back to Ireland and I think eh one thing they always bring back is the syndrome.
The black baby syndrome
They go to churches with their families before even the Africans come here. So
they go and collect the pounds eh and this is what the priest who is a brother or
uncle or something is coming back to Africa with. So that full written has a long
history and the image out there is the black baby syndrome and that was taken
over by the NGOs as well like the Trocaire boxes, the other donations, now the
televisions has actually even embraced that.
Eh images are coming when you are even ready to have your diner so these are
the images that are coming from concern, Trocaire, goal, and all the other
international NGOs on our TV screens. So its actually make people really
vulnerable and then the media is actually doing that but along side the print
media as well. If you look at the newspapers like when something terrible
happens to Africa, its more Eh like this what encourage them to print some but
positive things are actually left out. So this is the image that the Irish people
actually see Africans and the African continent itself.
So thats the representation we are dealing with even now. And I dont think
even our own media because we have papers here as well. Some of the papers I
wont name them but they are African led my everyday but some of the
publications they also do, and I also even have challenged to them.

43

They are not even helping, I told them probably a newspaper would be more of
promoting the positive side of Africa and Africans living in Ireland if the others
are doing the negative way but it seams that because theyre also cause of this so
called media eh eh kind of way of selling, selling the news, selling the paper,
selling what is actually coming from so that you can attract more readers and
things like that.
So they also adapt away of sometimes ridiculous messages coming from those
papers as well and at times somebody there is a time I was actually criticizing the
newspapers in Ireland here and the NGOs one of the NGOs happened to pick up
African publishing newspaper here in Ireland and show me a story and that story
was very negative he said to me but like you are saying that like really its not
about the white Irish media or people doing this but this is also coming from the
Africans, what do you have to say? I said, you are all the same journalism meet
journalism whether somebody is white, or back, an African, a European I think
the negativity is actually the one that is being portrayed but the positives are not
so thats how the media is actually addressing the Africans in Ireland


Henry

Thank you very much and you mentioned about the asylum seekers, the
government not helping them to integrate like mmmm when they are granted
lets say refugee status, humanitarian status. Are they just left to go and find their
way into the society or they are measures set out for them to you know to leave
that segregation to integrate and get jobs and educate themselves, is there any
help, do they find any help?


Mr. Bemba


Well I didnt realize that eeh, no they dont because the people I come across, I
dont have experience myself because I come here as a student and then work

44

through getting employment and then being an Irish citizen but I think with my
experience dealing with people who where in the asylum system or excuse me
they got leave to remain, or on humanitarian grounds.
They get their papers; the next thing is probably you go to social, you know the
system how it works here you actually have a right to get information but the
moment you go there, depends on the person you met, they are so angry, like
they see you without even answering your question, oh is here only for support
so its such thing that information is not very clear, eeh, what your rights are,
what your entitlements are, and things like that.
So people will struggle. For some body who is given a refugee status, is equally
to an Irish citizen the only difference is that they dont have an Irish passport in
their hand, but they should be helped financially, they should be helped in terms
of accommodation, they should get access to education and things like that.
These are some of the things they struggle.
In some places the moment you are actually getting your papers all these
information are provided to you but this is not what happens, people struggle to
get those things. You are actually frustrated with the system, the asylum system.
You get your papers get more frustrated as well. So these are some of the things
that are actually lacking in terms of the government, preparing people for
settlement or integration. So the help is very limited. Like there are some nice
people, you go to citizen information office or some of the like, part of the social
office.

Henry: very good. I saw like the offices where launched in 2001, and due to my
research I found out that prior to 2001, asylum seekers where allowed to rent
houses but after that they started putting them in hostels. I dont know what
caused this, would you have any idea and do you think that, I think you already
mentioned about the segregation may be you can point more light on how its
affecting integration because they where allowed to rent houses so they where
directly in contact with the Irish society but when they where segregated after
2002 do you think its actually making things even worse?

Mr. Bemba

45

I can address this in two ways, one is on the way of segregation because like,
before it was actually something thats been practiced in some European
countries like asylum seekers are given private kind of chances to have private
accommodation where by they mix with the locals, they can rent anywhere they
want to because like that also you are not actually labeling them as the asylum
seeker or this is the person.
The moment you put them in the reception center, everyone knows that any one
who walks in through that door, through that house that he is actually an asylum
seeker. You see that is something that is very negative but before, you can live
with people in the community, you are paying your rent, you are eating food, you
are going in and out in the day, you have access to everything, who is saying you
are an asylum seeker or not.
So I think that system, when they took it out, they is two things. One is that its a
government policy at the time by the ministry of justice I dont know its
Donoghue at the time who decided that, ok we need to talk to these people in an
accommodation. But another thing also is that also you have to really understand
how things work here as well.
Putting asylum seekers in the reception center is also creating business for
certain type of people and am not labeling these types of people to say that ok
they work with the government. But you see, its a business so an opportunity
was created for certain people to actually have business. The reception centers
are directly run by the department of justice, these are privately run and if you
look around, people who are running these reception centers, them I think, am
not really sure about this probably you shouldnt quote me on this but they
would have some links with influenced people.
And that is dragging on and on because we dont really know who is running
these asylum centers. And then the campaign is going on to close the asylum
centers for people to go back to private residents, but they are also campaign
going on for people who actually benefiting from this business because, its a
business and also I think they are restrictions in terms of their movement,
Emmm they dont want asylum seekers to go from where they are because most
of these reception centers where they are sometimes its very difficult to even
have transport, public transport. So you are actually,

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Mr. Mbemba

Hello

Henry

Yes I can hear you

Mbemba
Sorry there was an echo there, but you are actually confronted to be travelling if
you are at reception center, you have to wait for the bus, then the bus come on a
time so you have return back at a specific time to your location. So you are being
cooked food that you dont want, the children, like four people sleeping in the
same house, there is no even privacy. I call it an open prison honestly; in my own
words I call it an open prison. So these are some of the things I think eh related
to them and I dont know like at the moment there is no way em because even
before like, last Monday was a campaign about, to close reception centers. Lets
wait and see the report that is coming out and I say to you even one of the things
that I am even thinking might be included in those reports will be that its too
soon, there needs to be a lot of planning, where are they going to go because they
need to be legislation is going to come, in terms of that because they are not
ready to leave those people to go and get work. They are so many skills that have
been wasted in them and I think if they allow asylum seekers to have private
rented, to have access have access to employment, things will change for them
honestly

Henry

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Very good, very good. So to clear up this is my last question for you am, as a
representative of African center and helping them integrate, what is being done
and what do you think is not being done by the government.

Mr. Mbemba

First of all the thing is that honestly in terms of integration, em like we as an
organization, we are left out. Because the thing is we are advocate for minister of
integration and then three years ago a minister of integration was appointed. But
then, the ministry of integration we where looking at funding. Honestly and this
thing whether it would suit well with good organization but I think like every
non government organization like the Africa center we are better off like
working with the African people who are either in the asylum process or other
way of looking for assistance than main Irish NGOs.

But then something went to the main Irish NGOs and later it was even taken
from the main counties like integration funding. So integration funding was
coming from the county councils. 2000, 3000 euro, and mainly into activities. We
want to go beyond activities, we want to go into policies, how do we change
policies, how do we give these people training and independence skills, how can
they set up businesses when they actually leave the asylum process, to prepare
them, how can they actually get third level education.

These are some of the things that we where actually thinking of doing, but then
we couldnt do it as organization because we like confronted with funding issues
and there is no mechanism to give funding to organization like ourselves. Ok,
some people might think that may be Africa center especially Africans, it has let
Africans down, but look it always difficult to work in a system where by
financially you dont have any thing.

Nobody wants to work on voluntary basis, you can have people Monday or
Tuesdays but it is always difficult to get things done and I think our selves, we
have tried a lot, we have tried entrepreneurship training, even getting to the

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reception center you know that we cannot actually go to reception centers as an

organization, we have to take permission from the reception and integration
identity of department of justice and we are not actually lifted its the
organization that has to drive to go to these reception centers. So there are a lot
of obstacles there and I think the way forward is we need to actually see how do
we address those things?

Another thing is, we Africans with in our selves we are not really helping either
because, and one of the challenges facing us, as an organization is that there is so
many character assassinations and we are all struggling for but sometimes when
you talk to Irish people say that organizational or individual actually dont really
say much good things about other organizations as well. There are so many
things that have been said to you that really go against you in terms of an
organization and I think those are things that we have to go over and see how do
we work together as individuals and organization to actually make something
better for our own people

Henry
Very good, I appreciate Mr. Mbemba, that was very helpful, am sorry I took 19
minutes of your time because gave

If you have any other questions, I will be willing to answer at any time so feel
free to ask

I appreciate that Mr. Mbemba

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