According to the world bank open data above which I shared a link to - the last couple of years have surpassed that significantly.
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Incorrect.
Its something that for whatever reason the government didnt see coming. The welfare payments in fairness are a factor too. Varadker has acknowledged migrants are coming from other safe EU countries to Ireland as we’re an outlier in terms of benefits etc
You can’t blame the immigrants for that either. Its human nature. The real problem is we don’t have the accomodation for them in these numbers.
I’m not so sure about this. I’ve spoken to many people in direct provision over the years. It takes a hell of a long time to get from asylum seeker to refugee status. Until then, you get less than forty quid a week.
I think the constant conflation of immigration and housing is being used by many to push their own agendas (not suggesting you are). There are many people in this country that don’t want refugees here and will use housing as an excuse, when it’s really just an ingrained xenophobia that is their issue.
The current welfare system is definitely a factor mate. All Ukrainian refugees get the full 220 euro a week with all the trimmings whereas refugees coming from Syria etc are only getting 38 euro a week. Thats totally unbalanced.
It also surely isnt sustainable. 700-800 Ukrainians are coming here every week over half of which are from other EU countries as a result. They’re not getting anything as generous elsewhere.
Them military age and all! However, we’ll excuse Il Trumpo who disappeared with his imaginary bone spurs when he was military age because he wants the brownskins out.
I’d imagine the Ukrainian payments will go down quite soon but it’s a real outlier. The balance books for the state are good at the moment from what I can see and paying Ukrainians isn’t what’s stopping houses getting built in this country. If we ever found ourselves in a quandary down the line (as unlikely as it is but let’s say the Tans go for another invasion), you’d hope our people will be treated well if they flee elsewhere.
Maybe we should view the way we are treating some asylum seekers (e.g. Ukrainians) with a degree of pride whereas how we treat others (e.g. Syrians as you rightly point out) with a degree of shame (direct provision, etc.).
Those who have gained refugee status and go on to have families here have enhanced what was a very monocultural country. I’ve taught young men and women who are first generation Irish; their parents arriving from Ireland during the first real wave of inward migration/ asylum seeking we had. They’re contributing to Irish economic, cultural and sporting society. Sure, there’ll be some bad eggs in there, just as there is in any country. And people will take advantage. But we don’t want to turn into a British situation either where their government are actively trying to stop people getting into their country to have a better life.
As an aside, it’s about twenty years since I first got to know somebody going through the refugee process in Ireland. He was from Zimbabwe. A physiotherapist that opposed Mugabe and ended up in Ireland as a political refugee. He told me a story about being in a cell beside two other fellas and both of them dying from starvation in front of his eyes. Harrowing stuff that I’ll never forget.
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The numbers don’t say how long they were in other eu countries, they may just have been passing through.
The TFK awkward squad don’t like hearing stories like that. Send them back!
Good post mate. Fairness is what is needed. Also we don’t want to come to a scenario in 12 months time where the immigrants are on a time limit were they could potentially have to move out of their accomodation and will have no where to rent etc
That is on the cabinets table I believe at the moment and it is desperately unfair. We need to be upfront about it if we can’t house these people properly.
I think we are in agreement here (it’s actually been a rational discussion between us I think, even if I think our views are somewhat different). I do think that the fact someone comes to Ireland and will stay in direct provision (which is fucking horrific) demonstrates what an absolute shitshow they’re coming from.
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People fleeing war and famine and seeking refuge to avoid the horrendous conditions should be given shelter. Most genuine, decent people have no issue with this.
The issue is with anyone who questions the sheer volume of numbers coming in and wonders how we can continue to house thousands and thousands of people. It’s not racist or far right to wonder where we are going to put these people, considering another 50,000 are expected to arrive in 2024. We have people in tents tonight, in freezing conditions, how on earth is it reasonable to put people up in tents in this day and age?
We offer more generous benefits than elsewhere. We have a self voluntary deportation system, which means deportations are few and far between. Surely it’s valid to question this and why people from perfectly safe countries like Georgia are given sanctuary - at a substantial cost to the Irish tax payer - when there is no war or famine in Georgia.
Our immigration policies are basically non existent. Anyone can arrive in without a passport or documentation and they are given accommodation. We have a housing and health crisis that is not the fault of refugees or asylum seekers but surely it’s perfectly reasonable to query whether allowing thousands of more people to enter unchecked year on year and put even more pressure on limited resources is the wisest move?
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The underlying issue is national provision of a fair universal healthcare and numerous faults with providing houses of all types. Taking about refugees of any type won’t solve these problems.
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I don’t see the issue with using tents as temporary accommodation, if it’s all we have
I know a (black) Zimbabwean fella well through rugby. He came to Ireland to work as a physciatric nurse in a mental health facility about 18 months ago. He works about 60 hours a week and lives in the facility also…the company recruited a few dozen of his colleagues at the time and organised all their paperwork etc
The facility is in the middle of nowhere in a really rural village …he said he has received nothing but a welcome from the locals and would go the pub etc he loves it here and is unbelievably grateful for his lot. A super intelligent respectful guy and a great addition to the country
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The planning laws are a bit of a joke for trying to build a house. One single person objecting to a development can lead to a wait of 15 or 18 months for a decision from An Bord Pleanala.
The rents all over the country are mental, for the few properties actually available.
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The chap I knew (also black Zimbabwean I should add) admitted to me that he was a dead man only that he was wealthy. Was able to buy his way out of the country by paying people off and just leaving everything behind.
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Brilliant to hear by the way. When we welcome people, we do it properly in fairness.
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Yeah this lads family are still there. He won’t ever go back he said his family wouldnt let him anyway…he said with inflation their currency is worthless and could barely live hand to mouth there even though he is a healthcare professional
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You’re not allowed to query this on here evidently.