Irish General Election - Friday, November 29th *Read OP for Mod Warnings*

I know who I'm voting for so haven't really bothered with any of the debates,but it does seem very lackluster In fairness. Maybe it's the time of year or the lack of any serious opposition.

With an election just around the corner, you wouldn't have guess that in my area.

Barely any literature in the post, no canvassers and barely any signs up compared to previous elections.

This general election is as dull as dish water, you listen to these debates such as recent one on "Upfront with Katie Hannon" and it was abysmally with an awful moderator in Katie Hannon. Why do I need to know what party you wont go into power with, why do I need to know your parties Gaza stance (it's a no brainer that they are going to support Gaza) all this rubbish instead of talking topics such as the terrible justice system in this country from our judges down to lack of Gardai presences across our country

It's actually sobering the mess this country is in tbh

We’re a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention. We have responsibilities to people fleeing war or persecution under that. Therefore we accredit them protection and due process until the case is decided. As we Irish would expect the same if fleeing the country.

We’re also a signatory to EU freedom of movement which allows our citizens to work elsewhere as it allows the citizens of other countries to work and reside here. No issue for me. Immigrants statistically more likely to contribute to the Treasury than local citizens.

I find that those who complain about immigrants are those that do least in this country. Be that in terms of work and taxation, but also voluntary or community work. Hate ain’t an achievement.

We have no obligation house or pay unemployment to EU citizens who have never made social contributions beyond twelve weeks..

Our government said we could sustainably assist 3/4 thousand international protection applications from Syria over the period 2019 - 2023.

What’s has changed that we are now obligated to house people who already are in a process in other EU countries or people from designated safe countries. But as I said these topics are annoying tax payers the length and breath of the country.

I don't know, abortion is 'legal' in England, but sex-selective abortion is against the law.

In order for an abortion to be legal, doctors need to show that continuing the pregnancy could threaten the physical or mental health of the mother. In a recent case, two doctors were caught on camera offering a sex-selective abortion but the Director of Public Prosecution deemed it not in the public interest to proceed with the prosecution.

Following this incidence, MPs voted 181 to 1 for a Bill put forward by Tessa Munt and 11 other MPs aiming to end confusion about the legality of this practice.

So it's pretty much a 'don't ask, don't tell' situation

Came across this on twitter, pity the 'political satire' thread was closed

unfortunately some people don’t want facts to get in the way of tired and over played narratives.

but what about the other 86800 from out of the EU? Can’t see it broken down further

how is that dishonest? They’re CSO figures. I understand that those figures include Ukrainians but those figures are dropping since the welfare rules changed.
also as a net, if you look at the emigration figures, more Irish are emigrating than immigrating which is not the same for other groups.

We have about 4-500k EU migrants on social welfare and foreign nationals make up about 60% of the housing waiting lists. All the talk of building more houses is a pointless objective unless we understand clearly what’s driving the need.

It is clear our social welfare model is a draw and there are repeated cases to show it’s being abused. It’s a complete nonsense providing state support for visitors who have never been in employment or in some cases have had minimal employment. This has not been addressed at all in the election campaign even though the dogs in the street know this.

Well done on quoting a 11 year old newspaper article.

Possibly the figures are different now?

Our membership of the EU allows for freedom of movement (workers, includes former workers) and others. They can come here and we can go there. That's the benefit of EU membership.

Possibly most people consider it to be a foregone conclusion that FF and FG will be in power again afterwards with maybe Labour as the "eccentric Uncle" partner this time. They're probably not wrong either - even if neither get the numbers on their own, back-room deals will be done to get there and keep others out as happened before.

The lack of a real alternative for much of the population is a serious issue though when returning 2 parties who have wholly failed on the key issues is seen as the "best" option.

Ukraine (very obvioously), India (mainly students and IT, huge net contributors), Pakistan, Brazil, China, Syria, Japan, Nigeria, Phillipines, etc, etc. We're now a global country, and all the better for it.

It is but what's annoying is that this free movement means EU workers coming here have higher entitlements that equivalent Irish workers while Irish going there get exactly what the local worker gets (i.e equal treatment). Just an example of how the Irih State worries more about other citizens than its own.