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

It's true, that's the thing, there is nuance. Someone chucked up 90k without thinking about it. I've since had another look and it's about 55k new births in that figure. So, yeah, it's going to be a couple of decades before the vast majority of them will have any impact on housing. When was the last time you had a new kid and had to buy a new gaff? 1 extra child does not equal a new house.

I am so tired of this ridiculous narrative that tries to paint any concerns or facts as racist/xenophobic scaremongering.

Let me be very clear on my own stance on this issue….

NO, we absolutely shouldn't be accepting any randomer that turns up here with a sad story/the hand-out that has bypassed multiple safe countries to do so (as perfectly illustrated in the image from Gen Z above)

I don't CARE what problems they are "fleeing" from. If they were genuinely in that dire a situation they would be heading for the nearest safe location they could, not an island half a continent away. Why? Well wouldn't it make sense to be safe but still relatively close to family, friends and all you know than arriving in an alien culture with maybe not even basic language skills?

I DON'T feel "obliged" to pay (through taxation) for these randomers. Ireland gives away a fortune in foreign aid every year (even during the Recession years!). It's not my fault or responsibility if this is squandered or stolen along the way. Ireland has no colonial past or "guilt" to atone for.

I certainly DON'T feel that I or the Irish people should suffer the effects of increased demand on everything from housing to healthcare because of the increased numbers arriving and their needs. It's bad enough that the average working taxpayer gets very little in terms of support from this State without adding even more pressure as has now happened.

I have zero tolerance for liars, frauds, criminals, scammers or chancers arriving here and causing problems in our society. We have enough of our own domestic criminals and low-lifes without importing more. Nor do I feel that the Irish taxpayer should fund their incarceration for that matter when we already don't have enough prison spaces. These people should be deported upon conviction - let wherever they came from deal with them rather than expecting Ireland to!

I have no desire to see Ireland deal with the religious and ideological problems that the UK and other EU nations are facing because of their importing people whose values, beliefs, and behaviours are incompatible with those of a modern, liberal Western nation. We've already had religious oppression and abuse in this State and it took decades to finally throw off. I absolutely don't want us to replace one with another.

If someone comes here, ESPECIALLY if they are here on our charity, then they adapt to our way of life, NOT the other way around. If they don't like that, they can go try their luck elsewhere.

I wholly and unapologetically believe that the Irish State and Government has a duty and responsibility to the needs, support and well-being of Irish people and what's best for our country (not just our economy - which is largely the propping up of US multinational balancesheets anyway!) before all else.

OUR needs, OUR problems, OUR future needs to be paramount in all foreign policy discussions and decisions. If it'll negatively effect any of these things then we simply should not be doing it.

I don't buy the nonsense of treaty "obligations" or EU "rules" either. During the Financial crisis those supposedly invioable rules were bent, broken or ignored to limit the damage to Germany, so-called senior bondholders, and other more powerful interests and nations. Germany started this whole mess in an attempt to replace their aging population. If that doesn't suit those in Brussels then maybe it's NOT the club for Ireland in 2026. We're either an equal partner in this supposed Union or we're subservient. I know which I'd rather we were!

Now…

If ANY of that upsets, offends, or triggers you or anyone else reading this, frankly - that your problem. I for one won't be losing sleep over the hurt feelings and outrage of an internet stranger who sees racism in what in actuality is just common sense.

I am far more interested in Ireland finally tackling these problems and issues that we have in part been dumped with, but equally allowed to happen ourselves - and for what? "Likes" on the International stage? Windfalls for hotel owners and NGOs? The warm and fuzzies that Ireland is doing it's part?

Sorry, the trade-off isn't worth it in my view! I'd much rather we had a country worthy of the name myself.

How will RTE report this story....no nationality and no ethnicity will be mentioned.