Are we really that desperate for people to prop up the pension pyramid scheme?
More fake news and disinformation about passports 😐
McEntee is one of Leo's "new FG" generation of twitter-led, trend-following, exceptionally weak and unqualified politicians - ditto Harris and (before he quit after barely surviving 2 motions of no confidence) Eoghan Murphy.
The idea that some are suggesting that this woman could be a future Taoiseach is frankly ridiculous, but not surprising in an era where identity politics and quotas are far more important than actual competence or performance. It's exactly the same as the way much was made of Leo's sexual preferences, age, and racial background when he became Taoiseach as a sign of how far we'd come - not so much said about his complete lack of results in the 2 ministries he held in Enda Kenny's government though!
She should never have been elected a TD in the first place, but we can blame the electorate in Meath for that and the sympathy voting because her father passed away.
Anyway...
This latest move is exactly what is to be expected when this is the calibre of TD we have at the cabinet table and spits in the face of any hard-working migrant who is living, working, and contributing here legally and who arrived through the proper channels, to say nothing of the message it sends to Irish natives.
It also fits with the EU notion of diluting national borders and cultural identity and the ongoing attempts to drive to a USofE superstate, and the damage that particularly Angela Merkel did over the last few years with her attempts to replace Germany's aging workforce with anyone who rocked up in a dingy in the Med, no questions asked!
Even more concerning is the lack of debate or even clear support in the country for this idea or a lot of the other policies that are being enacted. Even on this forum the only reasons being offered are some notion of it being the right thing to do, comparisons to illegal Irish in the US (who should likewise be sent home or elsewhere if they don't legally qualify to remain), and suggestions or inference that anyone not on-board is a big racist or xenophobe.
The fact that these agenda crusaders in Leo's camp are in positions of real power in Government is extremely worrying as measures like this will have far reaching consequences that they themselves will never have to deal with, and we've already seen the consequences of our weak borders in certain parts of Dublin and elsewhere - which also doesn't get enough coverage for the same reasons as above.
This country has never done self-governing particularly well (and tries to abdicate responsibility at every turn - to the Church, to the EU), but combined with a national "need" for approval from elsewhere, TDs and agenda-politics like this will make this country unrecognisable in only a few decades - it's already happening - and for what? Likes on twitter?
Its not so much immigration for me its law, order, justice.
I would like existing laws enforced regarding immigration and not ignored because its difficult.
I feel the same about the need for longer sentencing, and deterring anti social behaviour
If we gave everyone of the people you speak of a home, know about them, make them documented / legal….the system has worked for them, circumventing the rules has been of benefit, it’s paid off…..so more will presume it will for them too…more will arrive, the same thing will happen and it’s a vicious circle….
They benefit, while Irish people will be secondary in the line for what they need from their government..
It's amazing how many posters.are still happy with our country having so many people living here that we don't know!
A lot better ways to spend 25 million….that will benefit those who amassed it.
What changes would you like re immigration?
It's only impractical because it hasn't been attempted.
The moment any democratic system is implemented, some politicians involved will work towards increasing the power/protections of the politicians and limit/reduce the power of the electorate. As time goes by, that becomes normalised, and more changes are made to protect politicians in their positions, essentially detracting from the democratic element of the system... just as the huge bureaucracy of the civil service ends up acting independent of the electorate, and reports to the politicians. Invariably, politicians and their families become an elite because of the generations that end up in politics, and the need to get support from the parties in order to get anything done.
Such a system could be implemented, due to the marvels of technology... but it's never going to happen in Ireland. Our politicians would never give up the power/influence they have.
Then don't discriminate. Simply ensure that the Amnesty is only extended to people in the country at the time of the Amnesty... and ensure that the Amnesty does not extend rights beyond what legal migrants already have. In that they have to jump through the established hoops if they want family members to join them, and also to adequately be able to provide for them without supports.
We really need some common sense to be applied to this Amnesty, removing all the feel-good measures. They want the illegals to be normalised, and be given the legal status to stay in Ireland.. just treat them the same as any other limited-term visa migrant. No more, no less.
25 million once or twice a year is alot cheaper than the stunts that have been pulled since even before the bank bailout
Anyway Switzerland has proven it can be done, while our politicians only act in the interests of whoever provides their donations and whoever is doing the lobbying
then every decision should be voted on by the public…
that’s not practical.
they are not betters correct, but they are charged with acting in ‘our’ best interests, the citizens of Ireland,
a change to the constitution requires a referendum… 25 million a throw.
No, it’s about following the will of the people. Politicians are voted for, and paid by, the citizens. They are supposed to be representative of those citizens, not see themselves as our betters and do what they think might be best for us. People have forgotten this.
The cost of a referendum to the state is about 25 million.
we are a democratic country with elected representatives… who should be of the ability to do what’s best for the people of Ireland without pîssing 25 million up against a wall anytime a contentious issue is on the table.. this is about doing the right thing not the popular thing…
Are they still in business?
Problem is, you can’t discriminate because person A has a two year old and person B doesn’t.
i don’t even think that’s legal…
so it’s all or nothing.
here illegally, there can only be one recourse.
Renua.
I think that's a really good question. If you want a robust immigration system who is here to vote for?
As to the amnesty _ I agree with it. There are those working hard here with children born here who need to be made legal.
However I am a bit wary of the family unification side of it. Does it mean that parents , grandparents, cousins etc willxall be brought over. Who will end up paying for them? I hope these a limit to this.
However equally I think there are some people who need to be removed from our country. Some who lie to try and stay here. Make up stories of treacherous lives etc. That are not true. We need to have better enforcement of removals. Anyone with a criminal record, rapist, thief etc. Needs to go. Anyone who lies, produces false information or was already resident in another country needs to be put out.
Nobody, because they all are pandering to an increase in population for different reasons..
FF/FG - more people is more money for businesses, more people buying things and the cost of labour is driven down. They want to help the money boys and girls…always have, always will…
SF/SD - more appearances of helping minority communities is an increased vote share…its not philanthropic it’s fill ballot boxes.
so the ordinary man and woman on the street is getting stiffed in biblical proportions…from both sides…
That’s the issue. There isn’t an alternative to the group think that permeates political circles in Ireland. The Overton window is incredibly narrow in this country.
My gut tells me that change will eventually be imposed by external forces. A significant number of our EU partners are stepping away from unfettered immigration policies. They are unlikely to look kindly on a rogue, peripheral state. Furthermore, the cohort of cowards who comprise our ‘political elite’ will crap their knickers if there is any danger of them missing out on roles within the EU, when they are finally booted out of the domestic scene.
For my part, I’m in total disbelief that somebody as untalented as Helen McEntee can ascend to her current position. She clearly does not possess the intellectual horse power to inhabit that role. People like her wouldn’t last six months in the private sector. It truly is a damning indictment of our political representatives.
How about letting the people decide? Doesn’t Belgium or Switzerland have a system where a vote is put to the people if something gets a certain number of signatures? But of course turkeys don’t vote for Xmas. Can’t be the best boys of Europe if you follow the will of the plebs.
Who should we vote for if we want a more robust immigration system?
Serious question!
Agreed. She hasn’t a breeze and it’s fairly clear Leo is pulling her strings in background
Here here
people need to stop voting ff fg sf Labour greens soc Dems if they want a change re immigration
Varadkar is certainly responsible for appointing her to that job, where she hasn't a clue.
You're right his paw prints are probably all over it.
I'm finding it hard to believe this all came from McEntee herself, it smells of someone like Varadkar being behind it. She is a light weight, like Mary Coughlan before her & the incompetent Mary Harney.
First the MUP & now this, hare brained just isn't in it.
A reset can’t result in a new constitution…? the constitution is to be changed a referendum needs to happen..
’you’ll be worse off, but you’ll be paying to make these folks better off’… not a very convincing argument.
People could submit the issues that matter to them, if it hits a certain target, it could move forward. The debate element is weak, because there hardly is any in Irish parliament as is, not real debate anyway, this whole policy supports that position. New methods could be created to get around those things. The bit about the constitution makes no sense either, as I said reset, a reset would obviously result in a new constitution. Anyway, I wasn't writing an academic essay on it man, I was just throwing out an idea, obviously it would need far more thought.
Who decides what the issues are and do you think it’s democratic to have no platform for discussion , debate, no parliament where people to some degree are held to account ? You’d like issues decided on by way of some reality tv style vote ? Interesting… wholly undemocratic, but, interesting. I think that would require a change in our constitution and a referendum…. The PR system is enshrined in the constitution so I doubt downloading an app and voting can change it…
We are, and my Aunt over there said to me 15 years ago….it’s all coming to you too. Wasn’t wrong. A lifelong labour supporter, a liberal but she saw the unwillingness her government had to clamp down on illegal immigration.
The key weakness of the amnesty proposal is that it will encourage further illegal immigration. Rather than solve the problems it will simply transfer them to a successor group of illegals. This is the very clear lesson of various amnesty schemes elsewhere in the world… but we are not heeding history…or some of us are not.
TomTomTim why are you lying about what I have posted. That is not my opinion and I would appreciate it if you didn't lie about me in your posts.
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