Interculturalism lecture
If we didn't have immigration, we'd need to invent it
20 May 2002

(left) John Lonergan, Governor of Mountjoy Prison, Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski, DCU President, Dr Bill Richardson, Head of School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies, Jackie Harrison, Director of Social Policy with IBEC and Kensika Monshengwo, member of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism.

Fintan O'Toole, an Irish Times journalist, gave a lecture here last Thursday, 23 May 2002, entitled 'Interculturalism in Ireland today: theory and practice'.

At this lecture Fintan stated that immigration is part of Irish culture and society, and that if we didn't have immigration, we would need to invent it. Racism and intolerance are a form of bullying; a bully will look for some form of 'weakness' or 'difference' in others to victimise them and act out their aggression. They thereby hide their own insecurities.

This lecture was part of a seminar on 'Interculturalism in Ireland today' hosted by the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies.

The seminar brought together academics, involved in Intercultural Studies, with practitioners and activists from non-governmental agencies, representatives of government departments and the Garda Síochána, along with people from private industry who have had direct experience of dealing with multicultural issues in the Irish workforce.

Also attending the seminar were John Lonergan, Governor of Mountjoy Prison, who spoke about the fact that 36% of the female inmates of Mountjoy are foreign; Jackie Harrison, Director of Social Policy with IBEC, who emphasised the need for political and social leadership in addressing issues of multiculturalism and Kensika Monshengwo, member of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, who advocated greater appreciation of the need to value diversity in Irish society today.

Thursday was not the end to this discussion. A noticeboard is to be established (called the 'DCU Intercultural Network', or 'DIN') where ongoing discussion of the issues of multiculturalism and interculturalism in Ireland today will continue.

For further information, please contact:
Bill Richardson, Head of School, School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies, DCU. Email : bill.richardson@dcu.ie. Phone: 01-7005193.
Or
Martin Sauter, School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies, DCU. Email: martin.sauter@dcu.ie. Phone 01-7005456.
Or
David Denby, School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies, DCU. Email: david.denby@dcu.ie. Phone 01-7005436.

news release 23 May 2002