Policy and Campaigning Work

One of the key pillars of Nasc's work is our Policy and Campaigning work. Due to its activities in the areas of Personal Advocacy and Group Capacity Building, Nasc is in an excellent position to understand the needs of migrants across a wide range of issues.  This understanding, which can be augmented by other information sources such as research and networking with NGOs and other partners, enables Nasc to prioritise issues and focus on those on which it can have the most social impact. Our 2007-2010 identifies five key policy areas (see below) but Nasc also works on other policy issues and responds to policy and media issues as they arise. More information on this and all our work is available in our Business Plan 2007-2010.

Nasc's 5 key Policy and Capaigning areas are:

• Family Reunification
• Employment and Enterprise
• Education
• Direct Provision
• Integration
• Other Policy Areas
  

Policy and Campaigning Support Issues
The ‘second tranche’ of issues are defined as support issues from the perspective of Nasc. These are issues on which Nasc will not take an active advocacy lead but where the organisation may well help support advocacy driven by another organisation.  Types of support might include the following:
Attending working group meetings to provide Nasc’s perspective on the issue (e.g. policy formulation discussions / round tables, campaign planning, etc.)
Provide information that would support another NGO’s advocacy position or campaign (e.g. data from Nasc’s clinic work that provide back-up evidence in relation to an issue).

• Administration and service delivery of the immigration system
• Airport monitoring
• Removal from state / deportation
• Justice system / detention
• Immigration / residence legislation
• Rights of parents of Irish born child

Policy and Campaigning - Other Issues
Finally, other issues that do not fall into one of the two categories above also need to be considered.  The key point to bear in mind here is that Nasc does not ever want to be in a position in which is has ‘no comment’ or ‘no opinion’ in relation to any issue that affects migrants.  For these other issues, Nasc will take a more ‘reactive’ approach, for example only commenting in the event of a request for information or opinion.  In addition, Nasc will aim to provide information as necessary and low-level support to other organisations working on these issues.