Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the decision to allow Croatians to work here once Croatia has joined the European Union, which is a positive measure. Too often, we have been more eager to facilitate the movement of goods than the movement of people and in the past, I recall we often were giving refugee status to people here but would not allow them to work, which was nonsensical.

I employed many hundreds of eastern Europeans in the construction business. They were very good workers, with a great attitude to work. Those people made a serious contribution to the Irish economy and many of them are still here. I assure people that the notion that these people are here to be subsidised by the State is completely wrong; any eastern European I ever met was very eager to work. Their attitude to work is very healthy.

The Irish have travelled the world to work and we take that for granted. God knows we need that at the moment as a release valve because there is no work here. Sometimes, however, we hear Irish people giving out about foreigners coming here and taking our work. It is mad that we think we should be allowed to go anywhere to work while putting restrictions in place for people coming here to work. It is very unfair. I am all in favour of the free movement of people and the right for people to work where they please.

Deputy Finian McGrath raised the issue of racism and I agree it is much more prevalent in Ireland than people would admit. I see a lot of racism all over the country and a greater mixing of cultures helps to combat that. Racism stems from intolerance. For too long we had the whole island to ourselves and then we suddenly had people of different creeds and colours coming in and it was a challenge to tolerate that. It is vital we do that because we will not be a mature race until we can accept the attitudes and opinions of others. God knows even at government level in many developed countries, there is a significant intolerance of others. Internationally, the most obvious example is the way we regard people of a Muslim background. It is very unfair. Anyone who looks Muslim going through an airport is far more likely to be stopped and searched than someone of Irish background. This is nothing short of racism. If we want peace in the world, the developed countries must be far more tolerant and accepting of Islamic culture. We have a lot to learn in this area.

Not only does Ireland need to grow up and tolerate other cultures, but Croatia must also learn something in this area. Only recently there was a qualifying game for the last European Championships in Italy involving Serbia and the game had to be called off because of racist behaviour. We have seen outbreaks of racist behaviour in eastern Europe and it will be good for them to mix more with other cultures. If they experience more of Europe than the countries on their borders, which has been the case until now, it will improve matters for them and help them to see that if we are going to be good human beings, we must learn to live with each other and respect the entitlement of others to their views.

For the last 16 years I have brought a group of under-16 soccer players from Wexford to Italy. It always comes as a shock to them that there is a different way to look at things, on and off the pitch. It is an eye opener for them that not everyone sees things the same way they do. That is why it is good travel and that is why I welcome Croatian accession.

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