Immigration and Ireland - MEGATHREAD *Mod Note Added 14/08/25*

Haha a strawman, you know exactly the cohort, it’s a truism at this stage.
Agree it’s not an anti immigration measure but it’s still not one they’d entertain. The IT opinion section would poo their pants.

I agree we need more enforcement, but additional measures also, it can be both

Here’s some specifics from the state.

State expenditure in 2024 on supports for IPA/refugees €2.3 billion. Looks like in 2025 the estimate is €2.15 billion.

International aid funds in 2024 was €773k and in 2025 €810k

Compare that to the minuscule funding from the state for Gaeltacht - in 2024 €90k and in 2025 is €107k.

https://whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie

Is this the funding the Gaelgoirs wanted to keep coming in - the funds you say they have been rabbiting on about for decades? It’s such a tiny amount to spend on our own heritage but that’s a problem? Yet some people have no issue with our state spending billions on aid and support programmes for others. Very odd.

In a sense it’s telling that the impact on tourism, the state of the media, housing and investment in the Irish language are all part of a discussion about immigration.

Apart from Covid this is the biggest issue of the decade.

So educating children in Gaelscoils is a complete waste of money? Tell that to the numerous local parents who want a place in a gaelscoil but can’t get them because there are too few schools around the country. They mustn’t understand that their children will receive an “ineffective programme” of education. The additional funding (capitation grant) is €23 over the standard €183 per pupil but that’s wasted sums spent on children who want to learn through our first, native language 😏.

As for TG4, why shouldn’t Irish speakers have Irish language media? Again, it is our first language and has been disgracefully ignored by a succession of governments. TG4 funding was increased to €60m this year, still significantly less than the €140m for the arts council but equally as important to our culture and heritage.
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/press-releases/ministers-martin-and-byrne-announce-details-of-budget-2025-for-the-department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-media/

There are many government departments that spend huge sums to issue information, publications, provide translators etc in a myriad of foreign languages and some people don’t bat an eye, but if spending is on Irish culture it’s wasteful. Of course it’s understandable when people are not directly affected.

One is too many and my post said any not contributing should be first on the plane back when the fighting finally stops. In the meantime I'd argue food and accommodation is enough for any refugee who's been here 3 years and not done a tap, especially Ukrainians who received very privileged support compared to other refugees in the past. Obviously the weekly pocket money is too attractive to be bothered working for some.

There's a huge amount from the Roma community coming from EU countries not working according to Pavee Point. Likewise should not be receiving benefits here. There are frameworks within the EU to deport people in such situations but our government are happy to pay the social burden.

Apathy is good. It borders on fury for me.

I think however the term "far-right" might also be a straw man in a lot of arguments here. I don't have time at the moment to dig up posts but quite often "guilt by association" techniques are used in an attempt to discredit sensible discussions about reducing immigration.

It stops working when the likes of Keir Starmer in the UK starts tightening up immigration rules in that country. The technique needs shady figures on the fringe with which to associate immigration control measures.

Roderic O' Gorman put in a lot of the groundwork in developing a sustainable system for dealing with asylum

I've no idea how much groundwork he actually put in, as reforms and recommendations for DP have been around for decades.

As one of the few people to have actually read the document it seems, a lot of it was aspirational and based on relatively small numbers.

I'd be extremely doubtful it was ever going to be implemented in any meaningful way and was more an appeasement document to buy time and kick the can down the road.

You would be amazed how many of these great ideas get touted at the start of a governments life only to sit on a shelf and left expire when the government gets dissolved.

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/05/24/aontu-ardfheis-peadar-toibin/

I don’t agree with Aontú’s stance on abortion etc but they’re the only party that are outwardly taking this issue seriously. Will probably get my next vote.

FFG are a party of existing homeowners and ladder pullers already sitting pretty - they’ve no incentive to change the status quo even if it does mean fùcking over their children and grandchildren and destroying the social contract of the country.

Greens got my vote in the election before last. Unfortunately within that cycle they shifted from a party focused on addressing infrastructural issues and modernising our energy sector to a party focused on social issues. Roderic O’Gorman, his performance, and now leadership has guaranteed I’ll never consider them an option again.

SF are flip floppers, no clue where they genuinely stand on anything

Labour/SDs/PBP are stuck in their student politics days and totally out of touch with reality

National Party are actual racists and not a party I’d ever consider

Yes I think we need to look at replicating the laws coming in in Spain of 100% tax for non EU buyers.
The top 10% of Indians for example equates to about 100 million people - essentially an unlimited supply of buyers to overshoot whatever savings or prices young Irish people have built up. How do you expect them to ever compete? Sure why should they hope to be able to buy a home in their own country. Those houses should be for anyone the world over with the money to take them instead.

Good post.

People who see no problem with our immigration issue - have no clue whatsoever about simple mathematics.

Even if "only" 0.1% of the population(@ estimated 1.5 billion) of India decided to come here tomorrow. That would mean an approx of 1,500,000 people added to our population. Think about that for a second - our entire infrastructure would collapse the very next day.

The sheer magnitude of Africa's and Asia's populations are completely lost on the majority of people.