9 September 1998

MAYO'S MUSLIMS FEEL BRUNT OF TOUGHER IMMIGRATION LAWS

By TOM SHIEL

MEAT jobs are being lost to Ballyhaunis because workers skilled in the traditional Muslim slaughter rites are finding it difficult to get into Ireland because of tougher new laws on immigration.

One plant, Iman Casings, based at Clare Road, Ballyhaunis, has ten employees out of work because the authorities are refusing an entry visa to a man who could train them.

There is also a problem at the local Irish Country Meats which has a lucrative market in the Middle East but can't get a work permit for a foreigner who is trained in ritual slaughter.

And a third Muslim operation in Ballyhaunis, also involved in the meat business, has been recently been refused work visas for two applicants.

SKILLED

Mohammed Kezze, owner of Iman Casings, complained yesterday: "I now have ten employees out of work because I have no skilled selector to teach the employees. I have a factory sitting idle because I simply do not have the skilled staff".

The situation has been condemned by Fine Gael Front Bench spokesman, Jim Higgins TD who yesterday (Tuesday) accused the Departments of Justice and Equality and Law Reform of an "Iron Curtain" approach to the question of refugees.

In the face of a flood of Bosnian and other refugees the authorities had panicked and were unable to differentiate between asylum seekers and those who had a role to play in Irish industry.

Deputy Higgins continued: "Paranoia and blindness on the part of Ministers has led to the blanket exclusion of these badly needed workers.

"It is costing industry dearly in Ballyhaunis at a time when the west of Ireland as a whole is finding it extremely difficult to secure meaningful projects".

Muslims first came to Ballyhaunis some 20 years ago when Sher Rafique set up his meat factory there. Even though Mr. Rafique has left, there are still fifty or so Muslims in the area involved in the meat and associated sectors.

INTEGRATED

Deputy Higgins said the Muslims had integrated well into the area; had created jobs that were very important for the local economy and were also extremely responsible citizens.

He added that strong submissions have been made to the Ministers involved but there was no sign of them authorities relenting.

"This is bureaucratic blindness of the highest order", Mr. Higgins continued. "The mere granting of a single work permit to somebody who has the capacity to supervise the ritual slaughtering of cattle would create additional jobs and markets but the authorities are blindly refusing to budge on the matter".

Iman Casings are involved in what is described as very specialist and lucrative business- a niche market in meats which has not been exploited up to now.

It is known that Irish Country Meats have unsuccessfully made very strong submissions to the Department of Enterprise and Employment highlighting the fact that there are a number of markets it cannot supply because of their inability to get an extra slaughter person.

One of the Ballyhaunis firms, on the suggestion of the Department of Enterprise and Employment, advertised in two national papers, hoping that a member of the Bosnian community might apply . The response was negative but the Department is still refusing to grant either a work visa or permit.

A third Ballyhaunis firm has secured a work permit for two applicants but the Department of Justice has refused a visa, a typical example of the "inconsistency" being displayed at official level towards foreigners at the moment, according to Deputy Higgins.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - September 1998