Ukrainian refugees in Ireland - Megathread

Has anyone here who signed up with Redcross to have Ukrainians stay in their home been allocated their guests yet?

Some of the towns are mentioned in the papers with the original populations and the Ukrainian population. The articles were in a 'look at the generous welcoming Irish' kind of format, but not so many of them now. You may have to search using individual town names and Ukrainians.

I know one is Lisdoonvarna as I saw it again last night, it had 800 population and 900+ Ukrainians are living there now.

BREAKING: Minister for Justice and TikTok sensation, Helen McEntee, is in simultaneous talks with Irish Ferries and Ashford Castle with a view to relieving the pressure on the UK regarding the plight of refugees fleeing war ravaged Albania

It is being proposed that the W.B. Yeats will be commandeered by FG and every rich American will be turfed out of Ashford Castle

"It's just something I have to do" said Ms McEntee, "and besides, both Sorcha and Setanta from Foxrock, have thanked my twitter feed" she added

You're absolutely right that I had concerns from the start. Why would I need to apologise for that? As someone who follows politics and current affairs generally, I was already thinking of how this move would impact on already serious issues in health, housing and others in the aftermath of Covid and the economic and societal damage caused there.

Having watched the likes of Leo, McEntee and Micheal Martin I was already concerned that we'd have 2 of them grandstanding for their "betters" in Europe, and the third dithering and being led by the nose, much as he was by Holohan, not to mention that he had already achieved his only goal (not to be the only FF leader not to be Taoiseach) and unlikely to run again as a TD thus aware it'll be FG/Leo's problem anyway.

As it turns out I was right to be concerned, wasn't I? Not even 6 months later and look where we are!

I certainly didn't vote for unlimited immigration and virtue signalling, no more than I voted for critical Government policy to be dictated by a bunch of Green fantasists that only 7% of those who actually turned out voted for, and who represent even less of the electorate now. Our fragmented Dail and the polarisation we've imported on issues such as this one have led us to a situation where the 3 parties we have in Government now aren't really representing anyone, and further alienating the electorate - hence the fall in support for the traditional parties and the rise of SF as the protest vote/alternative (not that they will be any better, indeed likely the opposite!)

CeCe12 has already covered Ukraine's suitability (or lack thereof) for EU membership so I'll only add to that that it IS the EU I suppose - an organisation that will rewrite, bend or ignore its own rules depending on what suits Germany and France. We saw it during the Financial Crisis, during the migration crisis under Merkel, and now with the response to this regional conflict. This repeated argument that "we signed up to it" is nonsense. Groups of politicians may have agreed it, but much of what is decided is never put to the general electorate - and this is why national Governments are now imposing limits and restrictions on numbers arriving and what they receive as the reality sets in and domestic populations (rightly) demand changes.

We are not Germany, or France. We are a small island nation on the edge of Europe with a population less than that of most major cities. We have no real industry beyond the agriculture sector and are too dependent on the multinational sector and FDI to balance the books and support the population. Add to that the long standing problems in the areas I referred to at the start, coupled with a mix of apathy, incompetence, and self-interest from TD's to solving them (eg: the Robert Troy farce), and the reality (unpalatable as it may be to some) is that we simply cannot help everyone who lands at the door with a sad story.

It's also why I laugh at the notion of a United Ireland, with everything THAT would come with - we can barely look after ourselves, let alone everyone/anyone else, and this is being proven as the Ukrainian situation here worsens by the week. Yet people like yourself would say we should do more, accept more - but I don't hear any ideas on HOW this can realistically be done given where we are, beyond essentially vague "be grand" notions.

Well I'm afraid it won't be. We face a very difficult few months as it is with the economic impacts of this ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, on top of the critical issues I've already mentioned. Adding still more new arrivals to the mix will only stretch the systems and supports to the point of collapse - assuming we're not there already in some instances.

So yes, we've done enough. Our "leaders" have bitten off more than we can chew here and it's not just the Irish and EU citizens who will suffer for it, but the Ukrainians here as well.

Anybody who thinks filling every hotel room in the country with refugees is sensible has a screw loose.

Cover yer eyes and ears lads we dont have a problem.

Shurrr we are a rich country.

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/property/man-renting-room-dublin-couldnt-24848134?int_source=nba

Did you learn much specifically Irish history in school? No idea what the syllabus is like now, but when I did it, it covered mostly European history, the renaissance, the reformation, age of exploration, formation of modern countries, WW1 and II in addition to Irish history. And of course it's not a mandatory subject any more.

But I imagine the English, maths, geography, world history, PE, another European language, science subject, etc., would stand to you wherever you end up, no?

Here's the online data. That's being hidden from you, and doesn't exist. 🙄

https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/fp/p-aui/arrivalsfromukraineinirelandseries4/

Lisdoonvarna is in the Enistymon area - 7.53% of the population compared to the 2016 census. So no, not more than the local population, as is being claimed on this thread.

its realistic

we can’t all go around with our heads in the sand and espousing a “ sure be grand “ attitude… because it isn’t and it won’t be.

no value in what’s happening..we are being completely compromised… in terms of our wellbeing, success and safety.