RTÉ continues to promote diversity candidates "aiming to represent their migrant communities"

RTÉ continues to promote diversity candidates "aiming to represent their migrant communities" (Ireland)

On The Week in Politics today, RTÉ continued their promotion of diversity candidates in the upcoming local elections this May.

Spotlighted in the show were Labour Councillor Elena Secas, Nigerian Okezie E Emuaga who is running for Fine Gael in Balbriggan and Spaniard Sandra Ruiz, a candidate for the Social Democrats.

RTÉ visited Caesar's babershop which they described as a "melting pot" of mostly African nationalities to hear the views of their customers who told RTÉ that though integrated they still feel like outsiders. One African told RTÉ that he would like to see someone who can understand his background and culture represent him. Another African said Irish people still do not understand the importance of diversity. Only one customer had voted in 2014 but the Immigrant Council and Nasc hope to change that.

Currently just one TD and two councillors have a migrant background.

Bríd Smith of the People Before Profit said only four out of their 60 candidates had diversity backgrounds which wasn't good because the party prides itself on inclusion and anti-racism. Their party manifesto has supported a compete open-borders policy in the past.

Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny said Ireland possibly does need diversity quotas to get more migrants into power in Ireland.

The ESRI said in their latest Attitudes to Diversity report that 58% of the Irish population oppose Muslim immigration, 75% oppose Roma immigration and 42% oppose European migration but so far nobody has called for people opposed to replacement migrant to be represented in politics or promoted on RTÉ.

Broadcast: This Week in Politics | RTÉ | 03 March 2019

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