Ireland's integration policy towards migrants has progressed significantly in the last five years.
The Migrant Integration Policy Index has attributed progress to the Government's Migrant Integration Strategy which began in 2017.
MIPEX researches data and analysis on which to base policies, proposals for change and projects to achieve equality in countries worldwide.
Its latest report on Ireland says that in recent years, immigrants have enjoyed improved access to health services, citizenship, political opportunities and justice.
"These recent efforts are likely to have long-term impacts, both for immigrant integration and for positive public attitudes and awareness on issues of immigration and discrimination", it states.
The report notes that Australia, the UK and US have gone down in the rankings.
Ireland, like Canada, is therefore becoming a more attractive global destination in the English-speaking world, along with New Zealand.
The report says Ireland's positive approach should be sustained by the prioritisation of legislators and policy makers.
It says momentum and focus encouraged by the National Migrant Integration Strategy must be further invested in and expanded upon immediately.
While Ireland's approach to integration is increasingly more "comprehensive", on the whole, MIPEX finds it is only "slightly" favourable for integration.
The Irish immigration system makes it harder for non-EU newcomers to secure a career, family life and residence in Ireland compared to most other countries indexed.
They also face problems of administrative discretion, bureaucracy and uncertainty about their permits and legal status which, according to the report, undermines immigrants' willingness and ability to invest and settle in Ireland as their future home.
It notes that these problems have gone unresolved and have been exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Immigrants feel insecure in their family life and future in Ireland, even as Ireland depends on immigrants as 26% of its key workers during Covid-19 according to a 2020 Study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre."
The report recommends that with "a few changes inspired by EU law and common practices", Ireland could pilot temporary arrangements during Covid-19 that could become permanent solutions in legislation.
It notes that current policies encourage the public to see immigrants as their neighbours and their equals, but not yet as full citizens.
If the challenges that remain can be overcome, the report says Ireland can serve as a model for many newer destination countries in Europe and around the world.
The country most comparable in their strengths and weaknesses are Belgium and Luxembourg.
It suggests taking inspirations from the standards set in EU law as well as policies in more inclusive countries like Canada, New Zealand, the Nordics and Portugal.
CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland Brian Killoran welcomed Ireland's increase in the MIPEX ranking, but said there is room for improvement.
The CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland has welcomed Ireland's increase in the MIPEX ranking however, Brian Killoran has said there’s room for improvement.
"Migrants in Ireland still do not enjoy equal rights and opportunities in employment and family life. Our immigration system makes it harder for non-EU newcomers to secure their career, family life and residence than it is in most other MIPEX countries.
"These types of restrictive policies encourage the public to see migrants as their neighbours and possibly their equals, but not yet as full citizens," he said.
