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'I realised we really needed to get more involved': Migrants on how they're helping change Irish politics

With local and European elections coming up in May 2019, more migrants in Ireland are becoming interested in how their vote can help shape the country.

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“THE FACE OF the Irish population is changing,” says Joanna Siewierska (21), who came as a child to live in Ireland 14 years ago. 

She was speaking at an information session on migrant voter registration, organised by City of Sanctuary Dublin. It’s a campaign focused on informing migrants about their right to vote in Irish elections.

“It’s becoming much more diverse,” Siewierska says of Ireland. “And our decision makers are not reflecting that, and that’s not good enough, for them or for us.”

Next year will see the Irish local and European elections in May, and there is an interest in getting migrants who are eligible to vote registered in order to become part of the conversation on the future of Irish society. 

Amman Ali (24), originally from Pakistan and who has been living in Ireland since 2011, is planning on going one step further and put himself forward as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Dublin southwest inner city area.

“It was a great experience,” he says about becoming a member of Fianna Fáil. “They accepted me, they welcome me.” 

“It was a chance for me to raise the voice of my community, who didn’t have a voice before…to raise migrant issues, the local issues that was affecting my area.”

Tian Lloyd (36), who works at City of Sanctuary Dublin and came to Ireland from China 16 years ago, says many migrants aren’t aware of their rights when they first come to a new country.

With the popularity of social media, she said it made them realise that there were actually a lot of issues among their communities that weren’t being addressed.

“I realised we really needed to get more involved,” she says.

It’s part of not only integrating into Irish communities, but working together with native-born Irish to make the country a better society for all, she says.

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Hannigan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:41 AM

    Hailo raised it percentage take and lost taxi drivers.

    38
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    Mute Jonathan Smith
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:54 PM

    When was that?just curious

    1
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:42 PM

    Hailo charge 12% commisssion, that’s it. No €79.00 or €99.00 a week with Citycabs/Global/Lynk.

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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:46 PM

    Still has over half the Dublin fleet at 7,000+

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:19 AM

    Hailo will lose more drivers if they keep uping the aunty with price and rules silly rules !

    20
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:48 PM

    You can’t up an “Aunty”, well maybe you can. Upping the ante is another thing. lol

    3
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:04 PM

    They do take credit card but yes you do have to sign up first

    8
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    Mute Liam Morgan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:42 AM

    They lost me when they stooped the use of their credit card facilities for non bailout jobs/customers it was extremely handy

    6
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:05 PM

    What is a non bailout job or customer

    19
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:07 PM

    I think he misspelled it ……..its meant to read non hailo jobs as in you used to be able to take credit card jobs of the street now the customer has to download the app if they want to pay by card…….stupid idea from hailo…

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Hailo have added the option to pre book now so that’s not a unique feature for lynk

    6
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:37 PM

    Hailo had to add that feature because it was the next step …….and to keep up with other apps that have that feature before them ….e.g…cab:app

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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:59 PM

    My husband left a cab company recently. The company sold the controlling share to the guy named above. They thought that they could sell the drivers rent as part of the business package, (Approx’ €5K per year),forgetting that the drivers hire the cab company to supply them with work, and they work for the driver. Not wanting any association withthe new owners, he fired them.

    He wondered why, as he calls it “the Weakest Lynk”, chose the exact same colour branding as Hailo? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose.

    5
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:39 PM

    Lynk taxis. €25 free sign up. €5 per journey if you pay by card but wait there’s a €3 booking fee before you sit in the taxi. It is removed after you use your “free” €25. So, free €10 sign up.

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:02 PM

    They can’t charge €3 for booking ! €2 is max Hailo don’t charge for booking

    6
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 8th 2015, 8:57 AM

    They do. I got a taxi that usually costs less than €5 and cost me over €8. Minus the “five” free. When you contact them they say that is taken off when your €25 is up.

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    Mute James Cleary
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:09 PM

    I always use the lynk app ( Irish owned company)

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:44 PM

    To be fair Hailo was set up by 3 guys one Irish

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    Mute James Cullen
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    Apr 7th 2015, 6:39 PM

    it was set up back 3 London black cab drivers

    4
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