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Has immigration had an overall positive or negative effect on Britain?

  • 04-05-2015 7:22pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,356 ✭✭✭


    The upcoming UK general election seems to weigh heavily on the question of immigration. Even Labour have said they are going to introduce "controls on immigration", which flies in the face of previous party policy.

    Andrew Neather, a former advisor to Tony Blair, Jack Straw and David Blunkett, wrote the following in the Londing Evening Standard in 2009:

    "...the innocuously labelled "RDS Occasional Paper no. 67", "Migration: an economic and social analysis" focused heavily on the labour market case.

    But the earlier drafts I saw also included a driving political purpose: that mass immigration was the way that the Government was going to make the UK truly multicultural.

    I remember coming away from some discussions with the clear sense that the policy was intended - even if this wasn't its main purpose - to rub the Right's nose in diversity and render their arguments out of date."


    That they have shifted so much says a lot of how the average British voter feels about immigration and the effect it has had on their country.

    While most parties - bar UKIP and (occasionally) the Tories - frequently state that the benefits of immigration far outweigh the drawbacks - what do you feel?

    Do you feel that immigration has, overall, had a positive effect on Britain?

    I personally think, if you weigh it up, it has had a positive effect. Not to say that people don't have the right to raise questions about it, but if we weigh it up, I would fall on the positive side.

    Labour-immigration-mug-007.jpg


«13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,248 ✭✭✭✭BoJack Horseman


    Positive.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,964 ✭✭✭For Reals


    The descendants of German immigrants, such as the Queen, have done very well indeed, and do bring in tourist coin. Her Greek husband seems to do well too.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    Positive, definitely. It's been carrying on for years. If only the contributions made by immigrants were actually used for more schools, hospitals, etc...

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,355 ✭✭✭gallag


    It was a good thing, but now there are over 10 times as many coming in than we were historically used to it is hurting the working class and putting pressure on services, some imagration is good, without it we would struggle for health care workers etc but to much is definitely a bad thing, especially people who will be competing with the host working class for jobs causing wage deflation or being unemployed themselves. The solution is simple, an Australian points system and mandatory health insurance for immagrants.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    Source? Or are you just going to quote the UKIP manifesto here as well?

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,355 ✭✭✭gallag


    Source? Or are you just going to quote the UKIP manifesto here as well?

    A source for what?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,102 ✭✭✭afatbollix


    More UK living abroad than EU immigrants in UK.

    Spain are getting pissed off with the amount of OAPs retiring to the Spanish coast who are filling up the Spanish hospitals.

    Also it is one of the hardest country to get benefits when you arrive. People are literally living on the streets for 3 months before they can even think about getting a bed for the night. Most just go home before the 'Money rolls in' if you call £54 a week rolling it in.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭cfuserkildare


    Bad thing,

    We have been through these circumstances many times throughout history.

    How come Islam now has more followers than the RC church in Britain?

    Because too many were allowed in.

    Very soon there will be no such thing as a National Identity.

    Not just my opinion either, Look at why Scotland, Wales and Cornwall want to seperate away from England.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    gallag wrote: »
    A source for what?

    Your claims.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,191 ✭✭✭Eugene Norman


    Your claims.

    His claims of what?

    Generally I see advocationof mass immigration to be an neo-liberal ideology. The left supports it in Britain because it's not really a labour movement anymore.

    Positive controlled net immigration can be beneficial, large movements can overcome services and housing.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,355 ✭✭✭gallag


    Your claims.

    What claims? Also, do you think it's a good idea that all mods in this forum are aggressively pro EU/Immagration, for example, there is no chance of any of the mod team asking the poster below my post for a source simply because his rant is pro Immagration. There is definitely a bullying/fear environment here for anyone not toeing the pro immagrant/EU line.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,695 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    Surely all those who think that there should be no controls on immigration are living in cloud cuckooland?

    Its fine to let in a controlled amount and try to make sure they can be of some use in terms of ability to work, contribution to society etc, rather than a free-for-all who are going to be a drain on resources?

    Is that sounds UKIPish, so be it.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    gallag wrote: »
    What claims? Also, do you think it's a good idea that all mods in this forum are aggressively pro EU/Immagration, for example, there is no chance of any of the mod team asking the poster below my post for a source simply because his rant is pro Immagration. There is definitely a bullying/fear environment here for anyone not toeing the pro immagrant/EU line.

    Being a mod just means enforcing the charter. I've not seen any pro-immigrations rants from any of them. You're still allowed opinions. By all means refuse to present one but that just means I can dismiss your points out of hand.
    NIMAN wrote: »
    Surely all those who think that there should be no controls on immigration are living in cloud cuckooland?

    Its fine to let in a controlled amount and try to make sure they can be of some use in terms of ability to work, contribution to society etc, rather than a free-for-all who are going to be a drain on resources?

    Is that sounds UKIPish, so be it.

    I'll continue to wait for data. If such existed, Farage would have touted it by now. There are immigration controls in place contrary to what UKIP would have you believe.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    Not just my opinion either, Look at why Scotland, Wales and Cornwall want to seperate away from England.

    Or they don't want to be governed by Etonian toffs they didn't vote for.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,108 ✭✭✭fly_agaric


    One thing that amazes me about immigration debate, UKIP's bleatings etc is the willingness to blame it all on "the EU"/"Brussels etc.
    From a distance the most dangerous problem immigration has created in the UK is a new cohort of people who hate the place so much they want to leave to fight in wars abroad or if they stay, blow stuff up and murder people on the street.
    This immigration (mostly from Pakistan and Bangladesh) has nothing to do with the EU. It was UKs main source of immigrants (other than Ireland of course) until accession states joined the EU and afair the "rest of the world"/outside EU is still a very large source of immigrants to the UK, and almost entirely within the UKs govt.'s gift to control as they see fit. This immigration happened because the entire political system agrees (or agreed?) with it (greed for a cheap exploitable bonus army of labour on the right or a brainless heal the world/post colonial guilt-trip on the left).

    edit: I suppose its the same everywhere, we need scapegoats. The EU is the scapegoat of choice for most national politicians in Europe on nearly any issue you can think of.


  • Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,831 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    NIMAN wrote: »
    Surely all those who think that there should be no controls on immigration...

    ...are a figment of your imagination.

    Who in this thread has argued for no controls on immigration?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 720 ✭✭✭anvilfour


    Why not ask the Anglo-Saxons, Jutes, Danes and Normans? :)


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    oscarBravo wrote: »
    ...are a figment of your imagination.

    Who in this thread has argued for no controls on immigration?

    Anyone who sees through Nigel Farage's nonsense apparently.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1 klark_kent


    His claims of what?

    Generally I see advocationof mass immigration to be an neo-liberal ideology. The left supports it in Britain because it's not really a labour movement anymore.

    Positive controlled net immigration can be beneficial, large movements can overcome services and housing.

    the middle class pc liberal left supports it as it doesnt infringe on their economic circumstances , the business class supports it because it drives down wages for unskilled work

    no traditional labour person should be in favour of large scale immigration


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 454 ✭✭Peter Anthony


    The exit polls seem to indicate the British public don't want Labour Islamifying the country any further than they have. The Guardian readers must be in tears, I expect some sort of protest riot.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Not just my opinion either, Look at why Scotland, Wales and Cornwall want to seperate away from England.

    there's a major flaw in your argument. They don't.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    The exit polls seem to indicate the British public don't want Labour Islamifying the country any further than they have. The Guardian readers must be in tears, I expect some sort of protest riot.


    Care to explain?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,594 ✭✭✭cfuserkildare


    there's a major flaw in your argument. They don't.

    Ha Ha, I think 56 out of 59 Seats says otherwise!! :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,205 ✭✭✭Benny_Cake


    Ha Ha, I think 56 out of 59 Seats says otherwise!! :D

    While I think that Scottish independence is probably not a bad thing and will happen, the only measure is a referendum.

    Wales and Cornwall have shown no appetite for independence. The Cornish party, Mebyon Kernow, support autonomy, not independence and have no representation above the county council level.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,695 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    oscarBravo wrote: »
    ...are a figment of your imagination.

    Who in this thread has argued for no controls on immigration?

    There are ultra-liberals who would advocate it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,205 ✭✭✭Benny_Cake


    NIMAN wrote: »
    There are ultra-liberals who would advocate it.

    I'd be interested to know who these "ultra-liberals" are. I've never seen the removal of all restrictions supported by anyone.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,397 ✭✭✭✭FreudianSlippers


    I think immigration has been neutral for Britain.

    I do think that immigration is far too broad of an idea though:

    1) intra-EU immigration has certainly been net positive for Britain. I think there are certainly EU citizens taking advantage of the UK's welfare system, but there are adequate EU/English laws in place to deal with these people - they just aren't adequately enforced (just as they aren't in Ireland either).

    2) non-EU immigration (developing world) has been net negative for Britain. I really don't believe there is a lot of desire to work, integrate or contribute to Britain in many sectors of non-EU, non-Western immigrants. I don't believe they are overwhelmingly negative, but I would certainly argue that for every 1 that does attempt to genuinely be a positive contributor, there are 2 that don't/aren't - and I believe for EU/Western immigrants, this figure is reversed.

    I think that gives the media and those who are xenophobic concerned about immigration levels a lot of ammunition to tar all immigrants with the same brush. If EU immigration was more controlled, I think it would be easier to tackle some of the problem areas vis-a-vis immigration/integration.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Lt J.R. Bell


    klark_kent wrote: »
    the middle class pc liberal left supports it as it doesnt infringe on their economic circumstances , the business class supports it because it drives down wages for unskilled work

    no traditional labour person should be in favour of large scale immigration

    Funny enough, in Ireland the same applies

    For a Non EU person to live here, they must either have

    A work permit
    Be a genuine refugee, or humanitarian leave to remain applicant
    Member of a family who are EU Citizens

    There is little Ireland can do about the EU family laws, and refugee if they are trtruthfull

    However, work permit are very hard to get right now. Why? Well, lol, all those jobs that, apparently the Irish were not interested in years back (ie cleaner, hotels, restaurants,) are excluded because you will not convince the deparment that you can't get an Irish person or person from the EU to do the job

    Oh, guess what? Many of those middle class jobs, you know, lawyers and accountants, they are excluded from the work permit category.So if John from Nigeria wants to be a lawyer here and had no right to be here, he won't get a work permit. How convenient (naturally there is no shortage, but, those classes would never be on the eligibility list.Mary and Sean wouldn't want to be battling for jobs)


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Lt J.R. Bell


    I think immigration has been neutral for Britain.

    I do think that immigration is far too broad of an idea though:

    1) intra-EU immigration has certainly been net positive for Britain. I think there are certainly EU citizens taking advantage of the UK's welfare system, but there are adequate EU/English laws in place to deal with these people - they just aren't adequately enforced (just as they aren't in Ireland either).

    2) non-EU immigration (developing world) has been net negative for Britain. I really don't believe there is a lot of desire to work, integrate or contribute to Britain in many sectors of non-EU, non-Western immigrants. I don't believe they are overwhelmingly negative, but I would certainly argue that for every 1 that does attempt to genuinely be a positive contributor, there are 2 that don't/aren't - and I believe for EU/Western immigrants, this figure is reversed.

    I think that gives the media and those who are xenophobic concerned about immigration levels a lot of ammunition to tar all immigrants with the same brush. If EU immigration was more controlled, I think it would be easier to tackle some of the problem areas vis-a-vis immigration/integration.

    EU Law seriously seriously restricts member states efforts to stop the welfare claims. It's very easy to be defined as a "worker". Once you fall into that category, and maintain that status, even if you aren't working, right and access to welfare shall be there, regardless of habitual residency rules.

    It's next to impossible to deport a fellow EU citizen


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,397 ✭✭✭✭FreudianSlippers


    EU Law seriously seriously restricts member states efforts to stop the welfare claims. It's very easy to be defined as a "worker". Once you fall into that category, and maintain that status, even if you aren't working, right and access to welfare shall be there, regardless of habitual residency rules.

    It's next to impossible to deport a fellow EU citizen
    It's not as easy to be defined a worker as you'd think.

    D.M. Levin v Staatssecretaris van Justitie, C-53/81, 23 March 1982
    The rules on the free movement of workers cover only the pursuit of effective and genuine activities. Activities which are regarded as purely marginal and ancillary are excluded.


    Steven Malcolm Brown v The Secretary of State for Scotland, C-197/86, 21 June 1988
    A worker is a person who pursues an activity which is effective and genuine, with the exclusion of activities on such a small scale as to be regarded as purely marginal and ancillary. The essential characteristic of the employment relationship is that for a certain period of time a person performs services for and under the direction of another person in return for which he/she receives remuneration. Union law does not impose any additional conditions for a person to be a worker. Member States cannot unilaterally make the grant of social advantages, as mentioned in Union law, conditional upon the completion of a given period of occupational activity.
    A grant awarded for maintenance and for training with a view to the pursuit of university studies, leading to a professional qualification constitutes a social advantage within the meaning of Union law. A national of another Member State who has undertaken university studies in the host State leading to a professional qualification, after having engaged in occupational activity in that State, must be regarded as having kept his/her status as a worker, provided that there is a link between the previous occupational activity and the studies. If it is established that the worker has acquired his/her status exclusively as a result of being accepted for admission to university to undertake the studies, this national will not be entitled to a grant for studies in another Member State.

    The Queen v Immigration Appeal Tribunal, ex parte Gustaff Desiderius Antonissen, C-292/89, 26 February 1991
    The free movement of workers includes the right for nationals of Member States to seek employment in another Member State. However, this can be subject to temporal limitation. After six months, the person may be required to leave the Member State, unless he/she provides evidence that he/she is continuing to seek employment and that he/she has genuine a chance of finding employment.

    I will agree that the bar is quite low, but the argument being that people are coming over and going straight on welfare without ever working isn't necessarily accurate.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Ha Ha, I think 56 out of 59 Seats says otherwise!! :D

    Lol, omg, ha ha etc.

    You specifically said Scotland (who voted no to independence 6 months ago), Cornwall (entirely conservative with no form of an independence party) and Wales (where PC, the only nationalist party got a massive 12%).

    Your argument is a false one and using it in a thread about immigration is irrelevant.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,280 ✭✭✭✭Eric Cartman


    I think if the NHS and the welfare state were not in play , immigration would be an overall positive thing for britain. If you imposed the australian model , a 10 year welfare ban and 5 years of NI payments before NHS coverage you'd only have positive immigration.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,397 ✭✭✭✭FreudianSlippers


    I think if the NHS and the welfare state were not in play , immigration would be an overall positive thing for britain. If you imposed the australian model , a 10 year welfare ban and 5 years of NI payments before NHS coverage you'd only have positive immigration.
    I think that's a bit temporally excessive, but in theory I agree.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Lt J.R. Bell


    It's not as easy to be defined a worker as you'd think.

    D.M. Levin v Staatssecretaris van Justitie, C-53/81, 23 March 1982



    Steven Malcolm Brown v The Secretary of State for Scotland, C-197/86, 21 June 1988


    The Queen v Immigration Appeal Tribunal, ex parte Gustaff Desiderius Antonissen, C-292/89, 26 February 1991


    I will agree that the bar is quite low, but the argument being that people are coming over and going straight on welfare without ever working isn't necessarily accurate.

    Find the statement , where I said that people are coming over and going straight on welfare without ever working".

    I do not have the remotest interest in what you thought I said or what you thought I implied. I did not say or imply that all they have to do is come here and get welfare


    This is what I said

    "Once you fall into that category, and maintain that status, [S]even if you aren't working[/S], right and access to welfare shall be there, regardless of habitual residency rules"


    What I did say was that they have to come here , become a worker, which is extremely easy to prove and hardly a huge hurdle, work for a period of time, and even though they might loose their job, depending on the circumstances, they might still fall into the category of a "worker". Job seekers are also considered "workers"


    If you maintain that status of worker and thus be entitled to welfare without the restrictions such as period of residency.

    As for the definition of worker, I assume you know the facts of many of these cases, and how easy it was to prove that a job was a pursuit of effective and genuine activities. Hence, it is pretty easy for prove that you are a worker. No need for 20-40 hours work, 10 -15 may suffice .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,397 ✭✭✭✭FreudianSlippers


    Find the statement , where I said that people are coming over and going straight on welfare without ever working".

    I do not have the remotest interest in what you thought I said or what you thought I implied. I did not say or imply that all they have to do is come here and get welfare

    I think you're over-reacting a bit here. I clearly did misread your post, but I was hardly attacking you.

    This is what I said

    "Once you fall into that category, and maintain that status, [S]even if you aren't working[/S], right and access to welfare shall be there, regardless of habitual residency rules"
    Agreed, and I think that once one has contributed for a requisite amount of time to the tax pool of that MS they should be entitled (3-5 years perhaps).

    What I did say was that they have to come here , become a worker, which is extremely easy to prove and hardly a huge hurdle, work for a period of time, and even though they might loose their job, depending on the circumstances, they might still fall into the category of a "worker". Job seekers are also considered "workers"


    If you maintain that status of worker and thus be entitled to welfare without the restrictions such as period of residency.

    As for the definition of worker, I assume you know the facts of many of these cases, and how easy it was to prove that a job was a pursuit of effective and genuine activities. Hence, it is pretty easy for prove that you are a worker. No need for 20-40 hours work, 10 -15 may suffice .
    My point was that they have to do work that is "effective and genuine, with the exclusion of activities on such a small scale as to be regarded as purely marginal and ancillary" - working 10-15 hours (unless you're in education) would almost certainly count as "marginal and ancillary".


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,905 ✭✭✭✭Bob24


    I think immigration has been neutral for Britain.

    I do think that immigration is far too broad of an idea though:

    1) intra-EU immigration has certainly been net positive for Britain. I think there are certainly EU citizens taking advantage of the UK's welfare system, but there are adequate EU/English laws in place to deal with these people - they just aren't adequately enforced (just as they aren't in Ireland either).

    2) non-EU immigration (developing world) has been net negative for Britain. I really don't believe there is a lot of desire to work, integrate or contribute to Britain in many sectors of non-EU, non-Western immigrants. I don't believe they are overwhelmingly negative, but I would certainly argue that for every 1 that does attempt to genuinely be a positive contributor, there are 2 that don't/aren't - and I believe for EU/Western immigrants, this figure is reversed.

    I think that gives the media and those who are xenophobic concerned about immigration levels a lot of ammunition to tar all immigrants with the same brush. If EU immigration was more controlled, I think it would be easier to tackle some of the problem areas vis-a-vis immigration/integration.

    Well said - to look at the effects of immigration you need to allow yourself to separate it into different flows based on time periods, geographical origins, cultural origins, reasons for immigrating, etc. and then give some type of judgement on how well each flow is working (meaning you will have to say some categories of immigrants are better than others for the country). Problem is political correctness and people who support any type of immigration no matter what are making this difficult and prefer a high level view to avoid pointing fingers at anyone.

    Overall I think immigration is currently having an overall slightly negative effect as it is poorly managed (but it has not always been the case and of course this is not to say all immigrants are having a negative effect).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 958 ✭✭✭MathDebater


    EU migration has been a net financial benefit for the UK. Non EU migration has been a net drain.
    Immigrants from Poland and the other nine countries that joined the EU in 2004 have contributed almost £5 billion more to the UK’s economy than they used in benefits and public services.

    Analysis by the University College London Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration found that while the fiscal contribution by European workers was overwhelmingly positive – amounting to £20 billion in a decade – the same was not true for non-EEA arrivals.

    Between 1995 and 2011, immigrants from outside the EU made a negative contribution of £118 billion over 17 years, the report found, using more publicly-funded services, including the NHS, education and benefits, than they paid in tax.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/european-immigrants-contribute-5bn-to-uk-economy-but-noneu-migrants-cost-118bn-9840170.html


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,905 ✭✭✭✭Bob24


    EU migration has been a net financial benefit for the UK. Non EU migration has been a net drain.



    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/european-immigrants-contribute-5bn-to-uk-economy-but-noneu-migrants-cost-118bn-9840170.html

    Interesting ... I assume because migrants from Europe tend to come on their own to work while migrants from further or less well-off locations tend to bring more family members which are not in a position to work for one taxpayer (and as FreudianSlippers alluded to, some are also attracted by a welfare state which their home country might not have - whereas this doesn't apply that much to EU immigration especially since the UK probably isn't the most generous one in Europe).

    And while it is an important factor, immediate financial benefits to the country should definitely not be the only criteria to say immigration is having a positive effect. Social, cultural, and economic integration of the migrants (and their kids) in the longer term is probably more important (at least for those migrants who are intending to settle and not to return home - if it is short term studies or work assignments, social and cultural integration doesn't really matter to me). I am also a firm believer in assimilation and I think migrants who are refusing to adopt local customs after several generations will cause issues at some point even if they are doing well in terms of economic integration (saying this as a migrant from the EU to Ireland myself).


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    I think if the NHS and the welfare state were not in play , immigration would be an overall positive thing for britain. If you imposed the australian model , a 10 year welfare ban and 5 years of NI payments before NHS coverage you'd only have positive immigration.

    Most immigrants don't claim welfare and are in their 20s and 30s so don't really use the NHS and are therefore not a drain on it for the most part.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,280 ✭✭✭✭Eric Cartman


    Most immigrants don't claim welfare and are in their 20s and 30s so don't really use the NHS and are therefore not a drain on it for the most part.

    well then my plan won't cause a problem will it.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,905 ✭✭✭✭Bob24


    Most immigrants don't claim welfare and are in their 20s and 30s so don't really use the NHS and are therefore not a drain on it for the most part.

    If you are only looking at economic migrants, and ignoring their family members which are not in employment.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    well then my plan won't cause a problem will it.

    It would be discriminatory for one thing. Surely if one isn't entitled to NHS care then they shouldn't be expected to pay for it. The Australian system is fraught with bureaucracy and would stop a lot of people getting in by that alone.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Lt J.R. Bell


    I think you're over-reacting a bit here. I clearly did misread your post, but I was hardly attacking you.



    Agreed, and I think that once one has contributed for a requisite amount of time to the tax pool of that MS they should be entitled (3-5 years perhaps).

    3-5 years ,agreed .

    The Directives and Treaty specifically prohibit restrictions on entitlements on nationality, as you know., if you are a worker and workers of the host Member State has no such requirements to contribute (after 3-5 years). The German must be treated similarly to an Irish person , in similar situations . All workers, irrespective of nationality must be considered on the same basis (of course unemployment benefit does require contributions, while unemployment allowance is means tested)

    If you are a student however, and only a student (and not a part time worker) then, the German might be expected to reside in the Host state for 3 years, compared to whatever is required of an Irish person , if any (Article 20 or 25 of Directive 2004/38EC)

    That's really not a big deal, what is a big deal is the definition of a worker, and, for how long you can still be considered a worker if you are merely job searching;)

    My point was that they have to do work that is "effective and genuine, with the exclusion of activities on such a small scale as to be regarded as purely marginal and ancillary" - working 10-15 hours (unless you're in education) would almost certainly count as "marginal and ancillary".

    Is that an opinion or a fact?

    If it is an opinion, fair enough, personally I would agree with you.

    If it is a fact, (according to you) , well, then, I am afraid, you are grossly misinformed . You are wrong.

    Working 10-15 hours a week in a supermarket , cleaner , or any other manual labour, provided that you are working for another person IS NOT deemed as marginal and ancillary by the European Courts. It is accepted that you are a worker. Speaking as a person who has assisted people in those circumstances in getting their non eu spouses residency, I can attest to it. If need be, I could spend a considerable period of time outline the facts of the case law.

    If you read the facts of the cases that you cited, and many of the other ones, you could be under no illusion that labour between 10 -15 hours ain't marginal or ancillary . It all depends on the circumstances as well. Europe has seen far more questionable cases than the examples I have set out.Suffice to say, some of the stuff over the years is bonkers, as standards from the more lean years of 1980's still apply today


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    Bob24 wrote: »
    If you are only looking at economic migrants, and ignoring their family members which are not in employment.

    I'd say it's more likely that people come over alone as moving with a spouse is more difficult.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,905 ✭✭✭✭Bob24


    I'd say it's more likely that people come over alone as moving with a spouse is more difficult.

    More difficult but it is definitely not impossible (especially in the case of a spouse and children). Realistically any migrant which is coming on a medium to long term basis will only stay if they can have their family around. Most people who have been in the UK for years and already had a family before coming would have brought the wife and kids at some point (ost people would not accept to be separated in the long term).

    Aslo someone posted a report earlier which confirms that on average the drag on public funds is higher than the tax paid. So even though there are many we cannot only be looking at 20-30 years old healthy and employed migrants.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    I certainly would't say that families never come over as well. If the spouse moves over as well then they're very likely to work and contribute also. A lot of migrants settle, marry a national and start a family.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,280 ✭✭✭✭Eric Cartman


    It would be discriminatory for one thing. Surely if one isn't entitled to NHS care then they shouldn't be expected to pay for it. The Australian system is fraught with bureaucracy and would stop a lot of people getting in by that alone.

    you pay first then get the care. think of it like health insurance and the waiting period here.

    the australian system doesn't have to be carbon copied , but id rather red tape keeping a few good ones out than letting all the bad ones in.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 40,552 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    you pay first then get the care. think of it like health insurance and the waiting period here.

    the australian system doesn't have to be carbon copied , but id rather red tape keeping a few good ones out than letting all the bad ones in.

    But almost all of them are ok. And it's not insurance if you're not covered in the first 5 years.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,355 ✭✭✭gallag


    EU migration has been a net financial benefit for the UK. Non EU migration has been a net drain.



    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/european-immigrants-contribute-5bn-to-uk-economy-but-noneu-migrants-cost-118bn-9840170.html


    Is that report calming that EU migrants had a net of £5billion over 17 years? Also what services that the immigrants access has been included in the calculation? Housing demand? NHS? schooling and child benefits etc also I am pretty sure the immigrants send a lot of cash "home" would this have been figured? Also, if they are displacing the host population working class causing them to remain unemployed is that really being a net+?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,355 ✭✭✭gallag


    3-5 years ,agreed .

    The Directives and Treaty specifically prohibit restrictions on entitlements on nationality, as you know., if you are a worker and workers of the host Member State has no such requirements to contribute (after 3-5 years). The German must be treated similarly to an Irish person , in similar situations . All workers, irrespective of nationality must be considered on the same basis (of course unemployment benefit does require contributions, while unemployment allowance is means tested)

    If you are a student however, and only a student (and not a part time worker) then, the German might be expected to reside in the Host state for 3 years, compared to whatever is required of an Irish person , if any (Article 20 or 25 of Directive 2004/38EC)

    That's really not a big deal, what is a big deal is the definition of a worker, and, for how long you can still be considered a worker if you are merely job searching;)




    Is that an opinion or a fact?

    If it is an opinion, fair enough, personally I would agree with you.

    If it is a fact, (according to you) , well, then, I am afraid, you are grossly misinformed . You are wrong.

    Working 10-15 hours a week in a supermarket , cleaner , or any other manual labour, provided that you are working for another person IS NOT deemed as marginal and ancillary by the European Courts. It is accepted that you are a worker. Speaking as a person who has assisted people in those circumstances in getting their non eu spouses residency, I can attest to it. If need be, I could spend a considerable period of time outline the facts of the case law.

    If you read the facts of the cases that you cited, and many of the other ones, you could be under no illusion that labour between 10 -15 hours ain't marginal or ancillary . It all depends on the circumstances as well. Europe has seen far more questionable cases than the examples I have set out.Suffice to say, some of the stuff over the years is bonkers, as standards from the more lean years of 1980's still apply today

    16 hours selling the big issue is enough to qualify for in work benefits in the UK.


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