Migration and Integration: The Impact of NGOs on Future Policy Development in Ireland. Executive Summary

The purpose of the study was to investigate the capacity of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to inform and influence the development of national policies relating to migration in Ireland. Migration is here taken to include policies on immigration, asylum, integration and citizenship, but not emigration. Set in the context of current policies and likely future developments, it explores opportunities for NGOs to influence policy and the nature and style of interventions that could be effective. It does not explore their capacity needs as advice and service providers nor relationships with policy makers or service providers at the local level. Drawing on relevant research literature, it identifies the broad range of factors which determine NGO’s capacity to achieve influence, against which experience in Ireland could be measured.