Exclusive: ‘Irish govt won’t tolerate instances of violence on the Indian community’: Migration Minister of Ireland Colm Brophy

How open is Ireland for migration of Indians?

As a EU member state, we will be introducing a new regulation. It originally comes from the European Union Migration Act and will be introduced into Irish law as well under a separate legislation. This will harmonise the process by which we will handle migration in some areas, in terms of international protection. More people are coming from India to Ireland to work… to study. So we will launch later this year, a new policy on migration and integration… It will be about managing the overall numbers, how people when they come into Ireland are given opportunities to work, and giving people — who’ve been here a long time — the opportunity to attain our citizenship.

How do you view Trump’s approach to immigration?

Well, the US President has taken a particular viewpoint as to how he wants to handle inward migration in his country. It’s not a viewpoint, I think, that’s shared by us in Ireland, and it’s not a viewpoint that’s shared, I believe, by many other European states.

Last year, there were a series of violent incidents against Indians. How do you respond to these concerns?

Ireland has a very large Indian community — people who are friends of mine, people who I work with, people who are members of my political party… Unfortunately, last summer, a very small minority of extremists… chose to carry out a series of a small number but…very nasty attacks on members of the Indian community… Myself and the Deputy Prime Minister…we immediately met the Indian community leaders in Ireland.  We would work together… The Irish government will not tolerate these small, rare instances… violent attacks on people who are in our country, contributing, working, raising their families and wanting to just live their life in a peaceful way is totally unacceptable to us…

How do you see the political relationship with India?

The broader trajectory of the political relationship comes down to strengthening the contacts — I am one of the first of probably at least three ministerial visits by Irish ministers to India in the first half of this year. We also want to schedule a visit at the Prime Minister’s level between our two countries. But I think one of the key…aspects to the growth in the relationship will be the possibility, which we want to see very firmly and advocate for, an EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Currently, between goods and services, we have a multi-billion pound trade with India, but the potential for growth in that area is exponential.

 Ireland took a very strong stance on the war in Gaza…

There is also a lot of connection between the people of Ireland and an understanding of the plight of the Palestinian people…what was a horrendous terror attack which…left many Israeli citizens dead, that should never…be acceptable to any state. But the response to that action by a State must be proportionate, and it should seek to target what was the terrorist attack, and not collectively punish a nation of people.

What is your view on Trump’s moves of acquiring Greenland through whatever means necessary?

We collectively support the European position on this, that Greenland is part of Denmark. It’s part of an EU member state, It’s part of NATO. Any decision around Greenland is a matter for the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark, and it is not a matter for any one State to decide arbitrarily.

The Indian government has been talking about shedding colonial mindset. How do you view this?

The Indian government’s position over the last number of years, that I would think is the most important thing that they’ve done is to drive economic prosperity. And what we have learned from our experience in Ireland is that the best way which a country can take its place in the world is through economic transformation… When that is achieved, that develops the way and the mind and the way in which a country views itself.