This report is a follow-up to the Immigrant Council’s 'Migrant electoral empowerment: the experience of migrant candidates in the 2019 local elections' report (Lima, 2019). The report examines what political opportunities people of a migrant background have and how effective electoral participation may be realised for election candidates originating from migrant communities. 

In June 2024, Ireland reached a significant milestone in inclusive democracy when it elected over 20 local councillors with a migrant background. This indicates that in many electoral areas, the glass ceiling for ethnic diversity in politics has been broken. These newly elected councillors represent an increase of over 100% since 2019, when 9 candidates with a migration background were elected. A further 3 were later co-opted onto local Councils. 

The June 2024 local elections were also significant in terms of the record high overall number of candidates of migrant background. While 2019 saw 53 such candidates, this year saw over 120. Although these results demonstrate positive change, the gap in representation is still wide. After the 2024 local election, migrants represent 2.2% of the country's local councillors and 15% of its resident population, according to the last census data (CSO, 2024). 

It has been recognised by international standards that Ireland has one of the most inclusive electoral systems globally (MIPEX 2020). Every adult person living in Ireland, regardless of their nationality, can vote and run in local elections. Although this means that migrant communities in Ireland are formally empowered through inclusive electoral legislation and policies, the report notes, the distributional pattern of electoral participation is still unequal and social structures leading to the electoral participation of migrant communities contain many barriers.