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TD Wants Illegal Irish Issue Raised with Obama

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been urged 2 raised the issue of illegal Irish immigrants in the United States while American President make an official visits to Ireland in May. Deputy Sean Crowe Fiana Fail said that he was hopeful that Obama administration would review US immigration policy and he has called on the Taoiseach to raise the issue directly with American president. I am hopeful that Obama administration would review the existing immigration policies regarding the undocumented persons in United States, Deputy Crowe said.

The number of undocumented includes a large percentage of Irish born people. Like all undocumented persons of all nationalities, their lives are unsettled. They are living in the shadows with their families under precarious circumstances. It would be to the huge benefits to the US as well as 2 the undocumented individuals 2 regulate their status so they become even greater contributors to the American system. The Irish undocumented already contribute economically, socially, culturally 2 the American way of life. Deputy Crowe was previously part of the cross party dial delegation that lobbied Capital Hill and Congress on the issue. The Obama Administration need to urgently address this. The need 2 be creative on the issue of legalising the Irish and introduce a pathway 4 citizenship to all our undocumented. I am calling on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to raise the important issue of the undocumented Irish directly to president Obama.

Patrick Maphoso Response

Patrick Maphoso Wants Undocumented Immigrants in Ireland Issue Raised During Obama’s Visit.

This is in response to the above subject matter Re – TD Wants Illegal Irish Issue Raised with Obama published in the Southside People newspaper on page 6, dated 27^th April 2011 and written by Jamie Deasy.

Patrick Maphoso is a South African immigrant, former independent contestant for the 2009 Dublin Inner City local election and off course an activist who commits himself to promoting anti-racism, human rights, equality and social justice in Ireland.

Patrick Maphoso in his response to the Deputy Sean Crowe (TD) is also hoping that the Taoiseach Enda Kenny administration would review all Irish immigration policy and is also calling on the Taoiseach to legalise all the undocumented immigrants in the Republic of Ireland.  The number of undocumented immigrants in Ireland includes a large percentage of those who were legally invited to work in Ireland on Work Permit Scheme, families with Irish born children and those whose applications to remain are still pending. Like all undocumented persons of all nationalities in Ireland, their lives have been ‘put on hold’ and they’ve merely been existing and not living. Most of them are also living in the shadows with their families under precarious circumstances, with little or nothing to live on and their lives are unsettled.

It would be to the huge benefit to Ireland as well as the undocumented individuals to regulate their status so that they become even greater contributors to the Irish system. Most of the undocumented immigrants as well already contribute culturally and socially to the Irish way of life. The Enda Kenny administration needs to address this. There is a need to be creative on the issue of legalising immigrants in Ireland and introduce a pathway for citizenship to all undocumented immigrants living in Ireland. I also hope that the Taoiseach must understand with me at this point that words are ‘lead ways’ to actions. They are indeed guiding principles and goal measurer. It will be in anyone’s best interest to achieve a more transparent society; it is our goal also to achieve a more just society. Most of the times transparency and openness tends to lead an individual in the right direction. I implore the Taoiseach to visualize the difficult journey through the tangled maze of immigration journey that they had gone through to get to where they are today. Most immigrants are fit and would be useful members of the Irish society and have more to contribute to make Ireland a better place. Just like the adage which says ‘What’s good for the goose is good for the gander’ and so also what’s good for the undocumented Irish in United States should also be good for undocumented Immigrants in Ireland.

Tuesday 22 March 2011  at Courts of Justice, Dublin in the Irish Republic, two Irishmen an Messrs Lawlor and Walshe were brought to trial.The case was brought by the State’s Director of Public Prosecutions and the  two men are charged under the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989.Presiding judge ruled that the two could be tried together in the same court on Oct. 6, 2011.Case for the prosecution refers to an incident during the Republic’s Local Elections when the candidate for Dublin’s North Inner City, Patrick Maphoso was allegedly subjected to racist abuse while on a doorstep canvass near the home of the President of Ireland in the Phoenix Park.

The accused Michael Walsh and Michael Lawlor wanted their cases to be
heard separately.On their last appearance at the Metropolitan Court in
Dublin they were represented by one Lawyer,but now each have a different
Lawyer.

Mr Walshe  stood by what he said and meant every word.He was arrogant and
interupting proceeding.The judge warned him 3 times and told him he will
only listen to his Lawyer.Mr Lawlor was very quiet and showed remorse and
just want to plead Guilty and take his punishment,He greeted Mr Maphoso  outside the court,shook his hand and apologised.

Maphoso unshaken by ‘racist attack’

Last update – Thursday, May 7, 2009, 00:45 By Chinedu Onyejelem

An independent candidate in the upcoming local elections was forced to withdraw from canvassing last week following a threat to his life.

Following the incident, Patrick Maphoso said that no amount of racist attack or intimidation would stop him from moving forward with his bid for a seat in Dublin City Council.
In an interview with Metro Éireann, the South African national and former anti-apartheid activist told how he was stopped by two Irish men who then attacked him on Dublin’s North Circular Road last Thursday evening, in what he says was a racially motivated assault. 
“One of them said to me, if I don’t ‘want a bullet on my head’ then I ‘must leave the area’. Then I said ‘Why?’ I kept asking ‘Why me. Why pick on me?’ He said black people make him sick. ‘All you f***ing foreigners make me sick.’”
But Maphoso said he remained unshaken by the attack. “I think they don’t want to see a black man become a councillor. This attack shows that I am doing the right thing. It motivates and gives me more energy and determination to continue.”
He continued: “I am not afraid of them. I was just feeling for my team members when I decided to call off canvassing for that particular evening. 
“I will keep canvassing till the end of the campaign. I am not going to stop because of some racist individuals that want to block change. I have been well received by the majority of Irish people in the course of my campaign.”
Nevertheless, Maphoso said he is taking the threat very seriously, and has reported it to 
Bridewell Garda Station, which has promised to look out for the men in question. 
“Those guys were not drunk or on drugs,” said Maphoso. “They meant what they said. If I did not leave the area, they were definitely going to do something.”
Reacting to the attack, Ken McCue of the Dublin North West Inner City Network said: “A racist incident like this on our own patch is an affront to the pluralist and intercultural society that we have been proud to develop in this part of the inner city. 
“How sickening it is for us to hear that this election candidate who came out of the anti-apartheid struggle is racially abused on the streets of a democratic republic. This is a naked manifestation of fascism which has to be stamped out immediately.”
McCue called on the new Minister for Integration, John Power, to intervene by arranging for the protection of immigrant candidates across the country to avoid any further problems.

We also are joined by legal personnel Catherine Cosgrave from Immigrant Council Ireland who has been heavily involved against this unjust legislation.

Racist attacks by South African on other Africans(So called Xenophobic  Attack)

Dear Mr Maphoso,

 I have heard a lot of the hard work you have put into the Charity that

supports Young people to be motivated in Sports.

Well done on all the achievments and  i do appreciate what you are doing

to develop the self esteem of our young african through football.

I am sure, you have heard of my Work in Uganda - Masaka.

In this area we have over 20 Primary School, 6 Secondary Schools, 3

Vocational School and we have over 10 other youth Groups that loves Football

but have never seen, what a Football Uniform or Jersey is!!!

I  thank you so much for accepting to work with the Uganda Diaspora on this

project.

Please let me know if you need any support or presentation at any stage.

Kind regards,

Sylvia Katete Gavigan*

Honorary Consul of Uganda to Ireland.*

Uganda Consular Office*
17, Rathfarnham Road*
Terenure*
Dublin 6W, Ireland

Gospel music is now being enjoyed by all strands of Irish society and is a great

force in bringing people together.

Ireland is now home to some eminent gospel choirs – such as the Dublin and Discovery

Gospel Choirs – which will feature among the highlights of our festival programme.

In addition there will be plenty of opportunity for visitors to explore the

dimensions of gospel music in a range of free-to-public workshops that will be

staged throughout the day.