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

"A lot.pf.them.go.ba k.alright for.vacationmor.famy.evemts"

Do they? Have you a number of how many travel back?

I've been sceptical of the EU and its control over domestic politics and policy for a long time, and you're not wrong in what you're saying.

It became very obvious during the financial crisis that some members of the EU "family" were more equal than others - leaving aside for a moment Ireland being bounced into the bailout (or else!), the treatment of other countries like Greece at the time showed that fundamentally whatever Germany wanted, Germany would get - if other countries benefited in the process, good for them. If they didn't, tough!

Previously inviolable rules and regulations simply rewritten, bent, or just ignored completely to protect the German economy and banks. We all know how well that worked out for Ireland, don't we?

Similarly, this entire mess of migration was kicked off by Angela Merkel and her supporters in an attempt to bring in cheap labour to replace the aging German workforce and to hell with the consequences to (again) Greece, Italy and later Europe as a whole.

Even before all that though were people like Peter Sutherland who was a huge advocate for the idea of diluting national homogeneity - and in a position that his words carried influence and weight :

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-18519395

We of course in Ireland saw that previously too when we were told to go vote again for daring to reject the Lisbon treaty the first time. No surprise then that the UK's electorate and people were similarly insulted when the suggestion that they might actually vote to leave the bloc started to gain real momentum.

The EU is not organised or run for the benefit of its citizens. Think about the complete (and I'd argue intentional) disconnect between the average Irish person and the EU parliament - most couldn't even name who our representatives are, let alone what they do, or how the system works.

This lack of information and accessibility, with local media coverage focused instead on stuff like the fraudulent activity of a former GAA star (which, don't misunderstand me, he should absolutely be punished for but the level of coverage it's gotten is hugely disproportionate to its wider importance) is a massive issue. It enables what we now see - a faceless, unaccountable bureaucracy that wields huge influence over each member state and its citizens but doesn't have to directly answer to them!

This of course suits not only the parliamentary politicians, lobbyists, NGOs, civil servants, but all the other hangers-on to the "gravy boat" - a term from the satirical political comedy The New Statesman starring the late Rik Mayall where the EU was described as "like a gravy train, but bigger, slower, and you can help yourself as often as you like!"

Like most good comedy the line was not only true but prophetic and can be evidenced too in local/domestic politicians who can handily shift the responsibilities and blame as "the EU made us do it" or, if you prefer, "our EU/international obligations".

They in turn are rewarded for even outrageous behaviour and failures with well-compensated positions in the bureaucracy like for example, Phil Hogan or even just people like Ming Flanagan who as recently as yesterday on Facebook is STILL claiming we have more than enough resources and space for this IPAS disaster :

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1263314708587402&id=100047266530181

So no, you're not wrong. As I've said many times before here, as an economic trade body in its previous incarnation (the EEC), the institution worked and maintained stability among countries that only a few decades before were blowing each other to bits - but once the politicians and lobbyists got notions of political aspirations and the idea of a federal Superstate, the whole thing began to unravel for the people in the nations (not a dirty word, no matter how much it's been undermined in recent years!) involved.

But as I've also said, the EU is not run for the benefit of those people, and it certainly doesn't respect their history, identity or culture, so we shouldn't really be surprised that it's not representative or interested in the problems these policies are causing in their lives or communities.

It'll all end in tears and probably more Exits with all the economic and political upheaval that'll come with (and possibly even conflicts) but don't worry - I'm sure our own FF, FG, SF and their "independent" colleagues will be among the very last to leave (and probably then only because we're pushed) no matter the intervening cost to Ireland or its natives. I'm sure they (the former, not the latter obviously!) will be well looked after regardless!

I didn't say anything about tracking down owners asking them their financials .

I posted a personal anecdote like all the others here posting .

My situation is not the same as emo's, or enricoh's ...theirs is not mine .

Why disbelieve mine over theirs ? Because you choose to .

Sou'west Clare was jammers for the last 10 days even after festivals were done and it was raining Many of those there at that stage would have booked places to stay well in advance like ourselves .. Many specifically booked not to coincide with the bust festival week .

For a simple snapshot it appeared healthy enough from a tourism point of view . I have no doubt other areas maybe don't fare as well but it's not my experience so I can't attest to it .