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

Not in so many words no…

I don't think that would be very fair or decent towards all the guys called Ahmed who already live here, work here, whose kids go to school with ours, etc, etc.

In describing the criticisms our current system faces I would certainly include the claims that it is open to abuse by those not genuinely seeking asylum.

I think giving people honest impartial information like this about our existing system and the same for proposed changes and alternatives is the way to go.

I've seen similar claimed by others defending the far-right gains in Europe.

The EU was never meant as a simple trading block.

It could become so, and sadly might, but free trade between nations would have to be pared back to such an extent that we'd loose an awful lot of the economic advantages that currently come with membership.

As the UK found out post-Brexit, a simple trading agreement won't work with the EU as it is.

Let's suppose we turned to having only a trade agreement in the morning. Hypothetically Spain could decide to open it's borders and take in 10 million refugees who could be put to work in sweat shops for 2 euros an hour. Immediately other countries in the EU would be under pressure to put levies on imports from Spain to protect their own workers and industries.

The EU isn't a standard trade agreement. It's a structure based on creating a pretty level playing field between existing states so that they can trade together and with the outside world in a way which wouldn't otherwise be possible.

The problem Lizzy is that the things you refer to as being good about the EU are two of the very things that require the profound nature of the treaties between the EU nations. I'm not sure its an entirely consistent position to take that you think freedom of movement is great but then go on to talk avout "giving away sovereignty" and "dictating on internal matters like immigration". It seems to more so be that you like the upsides of free movement and not the downsides — such as the fact that free movement and the Schengen protocols probably also necessitate a certain level of co-operation and collaboration between the member states on things like non-EU refugee intake to ensure that certain countries aren't just reaping the benefits of it and expecting to others to shoulder the burdens.

I have no problem and I am sure the vast majority of decent Irish people are the same in that they don't mind people coming here to try and better themselves and mainly "CONTRIBUTE" to Irish society and take in what we can sustain as in not putting a huge burden on our healthcare system, public transport system, housing, local amenities, hotels etc etc. The numbers coming in are just unsustainable.

The current system in place where there is thousands of people and I would hazard a guess the vast majority are male, coming in from countries where there is no wars is absolutely mindbogglingly stupid. Why should the tax payer foot the bill for this and make the lives of Irish people and people coming here to work and integrate harder in terms of accessing all of the above I have mentioned already?

They left for very good reason as the Brits had the backbone to tell them that their immigration policy wont be dictated by some unelected bureaucrat in Brussels.

Ask yourself this, since this immigration policy has been brought into law by the E.U is the average Irish persons quality of life any better? Cant get a house, have to wait maybe a week or 2 for a GP appointment, god forbid if you need a dentist, cant holiday in their own country unless paying an extortionate amount for a hotel.

I think you need to actually look at the results? https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/06/09/european-election-ireland-south-constituency-results/

McNamara was solidly third all the way, several others like Boylan and Blighe only eliminated towards the end.

If you wanna talk about pro immigration policy party candidates who fell by the wayside - well there's a long list of them.

And leaving was a terrible decision thay pretty much everyone in the UK regrets. Have you not read the issues the UK are having with asylum seekers? I suggest you read up on it.

To suggest laws around asylum seekers is the reason Irish people's quality of life is worse is ludicrous. Legal immigration has a much bigger impact on availability of housing, healthcare, school places etc etc.

Get rid of asylum seekers and Ireland will be a cheap place to go on holiday. I've heard it all now. 😂

OK but you've kinda just moved on to a totally different point.

But even at that, you say that you think free movement is a good thing but then go on to say that the numbers coming in are unsustainable as regards the strain they put on services etc. But who are you referring to here? Asylum seekers / refugees or just foreigners in general?

If its asylum seekers, the numbers are high in historic terms but as a percentage of the foreign born population they are a pretty small cohort within that. Indeed, as I understand it anyway, about one fifth of the foreign born population is Polish or Lithuanian alone — nationalities that enter the country via the very free movement you say is a good thing. Then there is another 13% of that who are UK-born who enter via what is effectively a free movement system.

So already that's about a third of the non-Irish population, not including all the other EU migrants here, who are here because of free movement...which you say is good....but you appear to have a more specific issue with asylum seekers who are a far, far smaller number.

TD McNamara who wrote "This government, on the recent referendum, on immigration and how they have labelled the response of communities, and throughout this Dáil term, have been the greatest purveyors of misinformation in this state."

or

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41390995.html

Sounds like a public representative just saying what the plain people of Ireland are saying. And why he got my vote.

Ukrainians, including traumatised kids, were given two weeks notice that they are being moved from Shannon to Lisdoonvarna. Kids have to change schools, adults without cars have to give up jobs.

I get it that they shouldn't be in State accommodation forever, but giving two weeks notice is just cruel. There are kids who have been bombed out of their homes having to change schools and addresses and start another new life.

An absolute disgrace. I wouldn't class myself as a bleeding heart on immigration issues at all, but surely anyone can see that this is cruel.

"I see the tent villages are back this time on Merrion Square" 

Nice and close to government buildings and pitched directly under the Taste of Dublin sign - how apt. That basically is pretty much a taste of Dublin these days and for the future. Only it will actually get a lot worse before they manage to herd them into what remains of our beautiful old country estates. Powerscourt House next perhaps?

So some 'citizen journalist' is going around the streets of Dublin secretly recording black people as they go about their business? Which includes helpfully and genuinely trying to give him directions.

I feel so proud to be Irish right now. Where's me tricolour!