Your excellency Alsyad Ali Alhashim, Mirza Al-Sayegh, Vice President Al-Maktoum Foundation, Sheikh Hussein Halawa, Dr Nooh Al Kadoo, Assistant Commissioner Nolan, Most Reverent Archbishop Martin, Ambassadors, Oireachtas members and friends. I am honoured to have been invited here this evening to join in the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland. I would like to thank Shaheen Ahmed for inviting me to share with you all in celebrating this very important milestone for the centre.
The approach taken by Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in organising events serves as an inspiration. I am struck by the unity of purpose displayed by the centre and its management in its determination to become a gathering place for Islamic peoples throughout Ireland and in creating relationships with wider Irish society in order to promote a true understanding of Islam and its values.
The Centre has provided strong leadership over many years not only as a religious community but as a centre that offers a wide variety of services where the Muslim community can gather to observe their faith. It is a place of learning with many of its courses open to the public and to people in the community. The centre has explored new ways to embed a culture of respect for diversity in Irish societal social relations which is to the benefit of all in our society through its education and outreach programmes for young people.
Reaching a twentieth anniversary is a significant milestone in the life of any organisation. It is an opportune time to look back and reflect on past achievements and successes and to take pride in the challenges which have been overcome. It also enables an organisation to take stock of the wealth of expertise and depth of knowledge which has been built up by staff and volunteers. This is also an ideal time for an organisation to examine the direction and work of the organisation at that particular point in time and to consider whether changes are required to meet the challenges of the future.
As the Muslim population in Ireland continues to grow, I am sure that many challenges lie ahead for the Centre. However, based on the successes of the past twenty years, I am sure these will be ably met. The Centre has already successfully responded to the challenge presented by an increase in the Muslim population. The most recent census figures available i.e. 2011 put the number of Muslims residing in Ireland at approximately 49,000. However, the real figure is likely to be in the regions of 55,000 to 70,000. When we look back at the figures for 1991, we see that there were about 4,000 Muslims living in Ireland at that time. In 2002, the figure was 32,500 and, by 2011, the figure had increased to about 49,000 making Islam one of the fastest growing religions in the country. I am sure the rapid increase presented many challenges for the Centre.
Today, the Muslim community in Ireland is multi-cultural comprising of Muslims from 130 countries, including Ireland. It encompasses people who were born in Ireland, Irish people who have converted, and those who have come from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, Malaysia, Algeria, Libya, Somalia, South Africa, Syria and Iraq. Many Muslims were born here and this is their home. For others, who are newly arrived, it is the place they will now make their home.
I believe that faith communities have a part to play with regard to integrating those newly arrived on our shores, in particular, they contribute to the development of a welcoming society for those newly arrived.
Over the past twenty years, Ireland has evolved into a multicultural society. It is important to develop better knowledge, closer relationships with respect and inclusion between the many cultural, ethnic and religious groups now resident here. Faith communities, such as that represented by the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, are well placed to be able to influence and support the integration process on many levels. Faith communities are frequently the most immediately accessible society for new arrivals in our community. However, it is also important that people are encouraged to engage with the wider society. Neighbourhood Week provides an ideal opportunity for this to happen.
The importance of integration is recognised by the Government. That is why a Cross Departmental Group on Integration was reconstituted with a mandate to review the activities being undertaken by Government Departments and agencies directed to promoting the integration of migrants. The Group is operating under the auspices of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration which is under my remit. As many of you will be aware, it is preparing a Draft Integration Strategy taking account of the policies and actions already being implemented and undertaking consultation with key stakeholders. Work on the development of the integration strategy is very advanced and I expect that the Strategy will be published before the end of the year.
Standing here today brings home to me the similarities between the Muslim community and various other communities in Ireland today. In many villages, parishes and towns throughout the country, communities have occasions to come together to celebrate particular events - religious, sporting or cultural. On these occasions, neighbours, friends and visitors come together in celebration. Many people will use the opportunity to return from afar to meet up with family, renew old friendships and reconnect with the place they have strong links to. For the Muslim community, Neighbourhood Week is an opportunity to do just that. It is an opportunity for people of the Muslim faith, and of none, to renew old friendships, make new friends and celebrate being neighbours.
In conclusion, I would like to express my admiration for the hard work and commitment of both management and staff of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland. I would like congratulate you on the success of the past twenty years and to wish you every success in meeting the challenges before you in 2016 and beyond. Thank you for the warm welcome I received today.