Immigration and Ireland - MEGATHREAD *Mod Note Added 02/09/25*

It's government spin., to quell middle Ireland...do you really think this makes difference to the state coffers? Are people that thick?

It will likely cost us more.... rent subsidies, social housing, HAP, RAS... or whatever you want to call it.

I never said that.

You chose to share a video of someone peddling conspiracy.

That is firmly on you.

The girl was looking to point blame at her own failures in life whilst trying to garner internet points. It's hardly unique.

She had the fortune to grow up in a ever increasing progressive, safe country with ample opportunity.

If she is not happy where she is, that is not the fault of a literal refugee who having being through everything she has had not just opportunity but the drive to finish her studies, and as the lady stated is keen to enter the work force.

Honestly I would be mortified if I shared that video.

Boggles, I think I was reasonable in my commentary and clearly you can spin it whatever way you want. The fact of the matter is, I don't have an bitterness, jealousy or envy. You can believe that all you want.

I think the logical takeaway is, you cannot expect to be supported indefinitely in a host country. That's reasonable no? You cannot consider natives and those who wish to return home as second-rate or unimportant either.

Secondly, I take issue with your commentary on the affects of the 2008- economic crisis in Ireland. Either someone is either too young to remember, or simply chooses to ignore, but that was an extremely difficult period in this country. I clearly did not compare it to war, but it was a form of survival nonetheless. 75% of my 2008 graduation class emigrated, mostly because they couldn't find work. It's easy to dismiss struggles when they're long past.

So while I absolutely support Ukraine in their efforts to push out the invaders, and abhor what's going on there. We should also take a leaf out of some European country's and consider our own nations long-term approach and exposure. It's awful but it's logical. This goes for immigration in general. Support yes, but don't jeopardise everything that has been built up for decades.

Boggles, I think I was reasonable in my commentary and clearly you can spin it whatever way you want. The fact of the matter is

You weren't.

You were trying to equate your circumstances with those of literal refugees, whose towns and villages may not even exist anymore, whose friends may be buried in mass graves or where they actually lived may not be Ukrainian anymore.

Secondly, I take issue with your commentary on the affects of the 2008- economic crisis in Ireland. Either someone is either too young to remember, or simply chooses to ignore, but that was an extremely difficult period in this country. I clearly did not compare it to war, but it was survival nonetheless. 75% of my 2008 graduation class emigrated, mostly because they couldn't find work. It's easy to dismiss struggles when they're long past.

I didn't give any commentary on the effects of the crash.

Your were trying to equate an economic crash, with a brutal mass murdering invasion.

75% of my 2008 graduation class emigrated

Okay if you want, you were a victim too, but there is a fúcking steep sliding scale.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61369229

The only one complaining is the conspiracy theorist in the video you posted.

But I DO live in Ireland, born to Irish parents and family, have lived and worked here all my life and THAT is what I care about!

Good for you. 👏

You have an agenda Boggles, and that is clearly above the wellbeing of this nation or anyone who has a vested interest in it.

Pure tin foil hattery.

That's besides the point. My frustrations there were not directed at the Ukrainians who fled Ukraine (post 2022), but more so at the policy makers here in Ireland, and to an extent nimby's. This 7-10 years comment on issues here is exactly why we fail to make progress. It's someone else's problem, down the line, the next government etc. A lack of joined up thinking across the board, which to honest, immigrants may help us achieve some day.

Not that you directly implied this, but I wouldn't advocate sending people back into a warzone (take a look at my posts above), so no need to answer that.

I often see this line of argument trotted out in response to these discussions

It totally fails to acknowledge the reality that these additional factors are making it more difficult to get on top of the issues in question

“Stop throwing petrol on, we’re trying to put the house fire out”

“Why? Sure it was already on fire without the petrol”

It's not really beside the point, if you mentioned it.

You also mentioned they were expecting indefinite handouts, no one has thought that. Unless someone from Ukraine has applied for ILR, their benefits have already started to be tapered down, starting last year, finishing in March 2027. Only reason this is all over the news again, is the accommodation support is being taken away.

Unless some sort of bridging system is put into place, it is very unfair to give someone without ILR notice of removal of support.

We need to set up refugee camps for all these people. Surely there’s some farmer with links to FFG that would rent a few fields out for an extortionate fee and just fill it with heavy duty tents, like you see in refugee camps the world over. I’m sure these literal refugees would be happy with this. It’s not like they’d head home if this was the only option here

Ukrainians were 10 times more likely to pick Ireland over any other European country due to what Ireland was giving in benefits. Imagine if the expenditure wasn't miniscule the numbers that would have arrived, eh?!

I'd be going for Ireland too, as it wasn't known in 2022/3 whether the conflict would turn into a continental Europe conflict.

It also still doesn't take away from my point.

You're arguing for a Government who is in the biggest surplus for decades, and blaming their decades of mis-management of funds, shortcomings in infrastructure and social support on a group that maxed out at 122,000 people, now down to 90,000, who have been here 4 years max (a lot are lass than 3).

That's a pretty silly argument to be fair.

Surely there’s some farmer with links to FFG

They are on a break at the minute.