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

Where is the evidence that money is being "diverted" because of asylum seekers? The asylum process would be very expensive at the best of times and budgeted for and we are operating a budget surplus of around €8bn per year. Also, money spent on accommodating asylum seekers is still going back into the economy by indirect means.

This is the old Brexity "let's leave the EU and send £350m a week to the NHS instead" stuff being rehashed. I'm not arguing that it is a good thing that money is being spent on all this, but there is no evidence that resources that would have gone to schools and hospitals and essential services etc is not being spent because of the current asylum system situation.

Where are the #2 going?

The next cohort to make piles of money

So we don’t have open borders, except for the open borders that we have.

That’s some genius level logic.

EU law prevents it. EU citizens have freedom of movement to work. If an EU citizen rocks up in Ireland and cannot support themselves, then under EU law, they can be repatriated home.

Just because WE (Ireland) don’t do it, doesn’t mean that it cannot be done.

500 million people in the EU are entitled to come here.

That is more than enough in my view for a tiny island nation.

In my view even that has to stop.

Skilled migrants only.

People that are not dependant on welfare. No more handouts. Time to get real!

That pro migration protest outside the GPO today not getting mention at all on any Irish news so far.

Only checked there on the live GPO camera and it's tiny, more guards than protestors.

Their numbers weren't much better earlier in the day, few tiktok videos showing the counter protestor on the far side of the road being much bigger.

how is irish agriculture being destroyed by the government? is dairy etc. not booming?

The whole AS process is a bit of a mystery to a lot of people i've asked. What exactly happens at the mount street office and why are so many waiting around there? Is the initial application made there, or is it where interviews with IP officers who make the decision take place?

From what I can gather, applicants can be offered state accommodation but it's not compulsory and once the application is made, the person can live anywhere, eg friends, or sadly, in a tent when nothing else is possible.

So when an initial application is made, does that provide paperwork that allows people stay in the state and claim various supports, ie allowance, med card etc until the application is determined which seemingly can take months. If unsuccessful, an appeal is made and all supports continue - is that the process? Are AS applicants obliged to stay in the state while waiting for a decision?

Should we keep increasing nursing rates to be in line with Saudi Arabia etc?

Where does that end?

For clarity I'm all for nurses being well paid and especially being able to afford rent and housing.

I remember there being figures reported a few years ago, at the time when the media was interested on policy, I’d imagine that overlaps with the resources you are referencing but they are outdated and, as I say, media interest has waned significantly. I suspect the figures are published in Danish but unless you speak Danish they would be difficult to find.

we've just had the garda helicopter fly over a rural village for 2 hours to monitor a peaceful protest with approx 200 people, there are water cannons nearby and the mounted unit are also in the area. Thats on top of a garda presence that has never been seen in this town before. All because the government are trying to bulldoze through an unpopular and very wrong development.

This policing is costing a fortune, in the flipside, I have a friend who is on a waiting list to get a lump checked, no date, just waiting to get an appointment to be seen. So, to say I'm a bit pissed about the money be wasted on this bullshit is an understatement.

"Simon harris doesn't care who is outside your door, he only cares about who is outside his door."