Metro Eireann: Ireland to be put under microscope in upcoming UN human rights review

According to the independent Migrant Integration Policy Index (Mipex), Ireland is not as progressive as many believe. The country scored just 49 out of a possible 100 for policies that are favorable toward integration, ranking below several other European member states and the US.
For migrants, the main concerns addressed in the report include social welfare regulations, citizenship applications, racism, rights of residency and education. 
Peter Szlovack, the Integration Centre’s head of residence and policy, said that the rights of refugees in particular are unclear, and emphasised that the Minister for Justice has absolute discretion over citizenship applications.
“People have been refused citizenship because they have a disability or are a single parent, but people have no control over this,” said Szlovack. “The Government wants people to be self-sufficient, but citizenship should be based on whether or not you are a law-abiding citizen.”
Szlovack said that the State needs a legal definition of racism and a response plan for designated racist crimes. 
He added that at present, crimes are deemed racist in nature only at the discretion of a judge.It is also problematic that individuals in the same family do not all share the same residency status, and it is “disconcerting” that school-level education is still largely under the patronage of the Catholic Church, he said.
“We want an education model that respects everyone’s beliefs,” said Szlovack, “something that would lead to a more diverse school system.”