Time for a zero refugee policy? - *Read OP for mod warnings - updated 11/5/24*

As has been pointed out several times we negotiated an opt out clause in treaties we passed, just never choose to exercise it.

In fairness I heard Mattie say this stuff last year when this all kicked off.

He said it on Claire Byrne then I never heard him on the radio again.

That is something we don't actually need a constitutional amendment for (as by definition it is part of the treaty that we have already passed by a previous vote).

I guess the issue is that we don't use referenda for such non-constitutional matters. Instead we elect a government every 5 years (usually less) who get to do basically whatever they want within the frame work of the constitution as long as a majority of the Dail agree. It sounds kinda dystopian when phrased that way, but it's effectively how all democracies work. Ultimately it's up to people to vote in a different government if they want different policies.

Honestly I don't disagree with you either, but it's good at least one of them is discussing it regardless of motives.

If politics paid better, you'd think the door was open for an articulate centre right party, but tbh I wouldn't wish being a politician on anyone. I think we are paying for this with many politicians not having real world experience beyond an NGO, University etc.

I dispair at the state of our options at the moment.

It's all about cheap labour, Irish employers don't want to pay reasonable wages you need to pay the rents being demanded. No government check for illegally hired workers or people fraudently using their friends papers. Students working over the 20 hours per week etc.,. Thats why their coming, no deportation free hotel and risk free, nothing to loose. Just keep appealling stalling to gain time for the next amnesty from Ms McEntee. I won't vote for the Irish Freedom party as the too extreme but FF FG offering nothing to stem this invasion of chancers from such deserving countries as Georgia, Albania, USA, Brazil and South Africa. The Munster rugby team went to South Africa and we get 500+ asylum seekers from there making various claims. We have become a soft touch for every sob story and wonder why we get so many asylum requests. How many is too much?

Out of curiosity, what is the other side of this story?

Ukrainians are here with our permission after all and we should expect some to integrate well depending on qualifications and language and others not so much. It's always going to be a mixed bag if the sole criteria is nationality. Either way - the purpose of their stay is identical - to flee Ukraine and have temporary shelter provided, so what, in your opinion, is essentially the difference between the two and why should it be emphasised?

Don't know much about him, not near my constituency. Don't hear much loud noise n shouting from him in this interview strangely enough!

https://youtu.be/F9EM_ef0wtU

Whilst I accept the thrust of your points, I think this may miss the point in some ways.

After all, does it really matter if we have an increase of 50,000 unemployed or 50,000 nurses?

It's still 50,000 people looking for using and competing for housing, infrastructure and services that were already vanishing from view, prior to their arrival.

I'm just not convinced that bigging up a select few is going to go down well with all and sundry.