Immigration and Ireland - MEGATHREAD *Read OP for mod warnings before posting*

Duplicate

Much easier to just try and insinuate anyone who disagrees with you is a far right lunatic than engaging in the actual nuances of the subject

A cheap tactic but one that is all too common in public discourse at the moment unfortunately

Not at all. There are plenty people who have concerns about immigration who are not far-right nor racist. There are many people I disagree with that have good contributory views to express here or elsewhere. I myself dislike the Direct Provision system and the delay in assessing asylum claims, but I respect the 1951 convention and the absolute right for people to make claims. If you're not genuine then you're taking a hell of a gamble and spending a lot of cash to risk getting here and having a successful claim. The procedure is strict and you're highly likely to fail.

In terms of concerns 2.2m voters have assessed the views of parties (and independents) across the board and declined to support those without sympathy and empathy for refugees and asylum seekers. It's a clear an unambiguous result from the people of Ireland.

I think when looking people’s vote and how it was used in the election regarding immigration. I think it is very naive to think people didn’t support overtly right-wing candidates that ran exclusive on an “anti-immigration” because they didn’t believe in things they were saying. IMHO these people didn’t garner any realistic seats/vote was due to their due to their lack of real credibility, proven track record or overall political polish and presentation.

They are working extremely well in pointing out and highlighting instances where our immigration policy is farcical and not what the people want. But if we play it out beyond the social media videos and shouting behind phones, the only solution the vast majority in this realm have to offer is a “Err err err…..GET THEM OUT!!!!!!”. The electorate are smart enough to see through this. In the short term and the long term, they offer nothing substantial.

People were very eager to debate and use their vote on immigration. I have no doubt every politician that canvased in the most recent general election were challenged and quizzed on their view of current/future immigration policies.

People want it sorted and they way they see sorting it is through our current “proven” party system. I’d argue FF/FG held onto much of their vote due to their views on immigration. FG I feel would like to be more right leaning than they are. Nobody wants to touch SF regarding immigration, it has cost them dearly. I heard someone jokingly say SF’s policy on immigration was “Brits out, everyone else in” and I don’t think I’m hyperbolic in saying even their die-hards believe this is the case.

The problem with this, is that up until very recently but certainly during the election, having an honest debate about immigration wasn't facilitated by the media. Despite many on here, on X etc trying to raise awareness, voters have been gaslit by politicians and the media, that immigration doesn't affect all the issues you mention. When now they are starting to admit it does. Many people have been brainwashed not to join the dots, and if you dared say anything negative about immigration, you'd be demonised as a far right racist.

Yes for the third time we’ve seen a sustained surge in people seeking international protection here from around 2022 onwards.

Your contention is that people from Nigeria, Algeria and elsewhere are claiming asylum in their tens of thousands here as a result of the Russian invasion is it?
Or how do you account for the huge increase in the numbers seeking international protection in this period?

A mere typo, my point was only ever that it was costing us more than a billion annually and that’s consistent going back through all of my comments in this exchange.

Glad to see you’ve abandoned your hamfisted attempt at pretending that it was only going to be costing us €417m annually going forward, when in truth it will be multiples more.

Are you saying that the electorate are not smart enough to read widely and make their own minds up? That they don't consider immigration an important enough issue means they're not savvy people?

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2025/01/20/state-spent-143bn-on-accommodation-for-asylum-seekers-and-ukrainian-refugees-in-first-9-months-of-2024/

The

State

spent €1.43 billion on accommodation for asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees during the first nine months of 2024, according to the latest figures from the Department of Integration

.

So that for the year would be nearly 2 billion. With increasing numbers it'll be more this year and for the foreseeable future.

What increasing numbers? Asylum claims are down in the first three months of this year

https://www.thejournal.ie/question-mark-over-use-of-tents-to-house-asylum-seekers-amid-eu-findings-on-providing-basic-needs-6675043-Apr2025/

The numbers of Ukrainians has also declined.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, around 113,600 Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection in Ireland. Some people have returned home but around 85,000 Ukrainians remain, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office.

75% or 82,051 of arrivals from Ukraine had administrative activity after 30 June 2024, which suggests they are still actively in the country.

https://emn.ie/the-latest-cso-arrivals-from-ukraine-series-shows-75-still-in-ireland/

So, which increasing numbers do you mean?

It's not that simple. Ukrainians have left themselves. Many AS who are refused their claim, leave the state. And even if they don't they are no longer legally in this country and cannot live in state supplied accomodations. They are no longer costing the state money.

You also seem to have missed this and add in the thousand of Ukrainians returning home.

You appear to be suggesting that the electorate are just stupid, that the wool was pulled over their eyes and that a couple of million of them just forgot that immigration was such a big issue for them!

I'd suggest the electorate is much smarter then you seem to think, they know their own minds and they voted accordingly, in line with the exit polls conducted.

when it effectively lost Sinn Fein their shot at power

Not sure how you claim others are posting nonsensical garbage, when you are literally making things up and reading the minds of over 2 million people!!

And all of whom are capable of working and housing themselves. To say otherwise is just pure discrimination.

All issues influenced hugely by immigration