Time for a zero refugee policy? - *Read OP for mod warnings and threadbans - updated 11/5/24*

Roderic O'Gorman sending out begging letters looking for accommodation.

A couple of days ago the Irish Times carried a letter which was in sharp contrast contrast to the usual stuff they print about immigrants and asylum seekers, Here it is again:

I expected a big reaction from the usual crowd of letter-writers, but after 2 days, nothing, I can't believe they did not get a load of correspondence on this issue, so I suspect that they are just shutting down debate. My suspicions are strengthened by the Opinion page in to-day's I.T. There are 3 pieces by Diarmaid Ferriter, Justine McCarthy and Una Mullaly, which seem (especially the latter two) to go out of their way not to address the real fears of reasonable people.

If there is a nasty populist backlash against immigrants and asylum seekers, then the faux-liberals of the Irish Times will bear a lot of the responsibility

People don't care about comparisons with other countries.

The current attitude is that we've taken enough and there is no more room.

This is a widely shared view now across the country, particularly among our recent migrant population.

I contacted my local public representatives, expressing my disquiet at an egregious and clearly mis-guided policy proposal put forward by one of their colleagues in government. The reservations I expressed in my e-mails, namely enumerating pull factors and an inevitable increase in the volume of asylum claims from MENA and sub-Saharan Africa, an outcome that has evidently come to pass.

There was no 'going off' at anybody 'Boggles'.

No one is qualified to even attempt at guessing when or how the war in Ukraine will end, or what sort of state Ukraine will be in by then. There was a report this week describing how large areas in Ukraine are heavily landmined.

Also, Turkey's military has been engaged in Syria, a neighbouring country that shares a massive border as well as historical and cultural ties. Its disingenuous to suggest we should look at Turkey as some sort of role model.

Honestly, I focused on the 'own door' accommodation component of the paper. The clauses I quoted in my e-mails were derived exclusively from that section.

My primary reservation was that it would serve as a pull factor. Given the 500% YoY increase in non-Ukrainian IPAs...

To reiterate, there was no 'going off' or however you choose to characterize it. Actually, given the current focus on migration issues, I wonder would now be an opportune moment to reignite those threads? Perhaps, my local representatives might be more receptive to reservations around migration at this time.

I read the paper. I passages I quoted were from the components dealing explicitly with 'own door' accommodation. It was not taken out of context. I pointed out the juxtaposition of offering 'own door' accommodation with the commitment to accelerating the adjudication process. It was obvious that the system would be overwhelmed by the inevitable increase in applications.

Actually, I'm not on social media. The only platform that I engage with, albeit to a very limited degree is Boards. I formulated my opinion having read the white paper and articulated my position based on my concerns around the 'own door accommodation' proposal. My specific concerns related to asylum seekers originating from MENA and sub-Saharan Africa. I did not predict or reference the war in Ukraine. Given that non-Ukrainian IPAs have increased 500% YoY, with many originating from Georgia, Albania, Algeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria, I would suggest that my prediction was rather accurate. Having said that, it didn't required Oracle-like powers to deduce that outcome..

There's no chance I'll be sharing private interactions with my local representatives with you 'Boggles'. Frankly, it's none of your business and it's borderline creepy that you would request access to those e-mails.

You'll be waiting 👍️

It might be 'fair and accurate' in your head 'Boggles', but I suggest that may not hold true for the majority of readers consuming this thread.

I read the white paper, expressed my concerns, suggested an outcome that has quantitatively come to pass, the results of which are, that the government is now struggling / unable to source accommodation, due to the explosive growth in IPA numbers.

You might characterize the white paper as 'aspirational'. I perceived it as delusional and given the current situation, my critique of said white paper was rather more accurate than yours. It won't be implemented in the future, because Roderick O'Gorman and the wider Green Party will be roundly spanked in the next GE.

Yes; let's leave it there. As always, pleasure doing business with you 'Boggles' 👍️

Ireland has one of the highest debt per head levels in the world. Totally reliant on corporation tax now with it being 25% of all tax collected.

180k refugees estimated here by government officials by the end of this year with worst case scenario 19k having no bed by the end of next month. Still no limits says our politicians. Now anyone for raising the pension age to 70 to pay for this crap!

https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-has-one-of-the-highest-per-capita-debt-burdens-in-the-world-5986591-Feb2023/

They don't care. It's addressed every time it comes up, yet it never stops them making the same argument again and again. They are clutching at straws, and they know it, hence why they ignore all the counter arguments.

Approx 250 Billion in debt

I’ve always thought this will come back to bite us in the ass at some stage & I’m sure it will.

plus add in Mica , children’s hospital & the latest care home scandal which is a few billion.

how in the name of God are we still in business

Debt is debt no matter what way you look at it.

servicable at the moment, what’s gonna happen when it isn’t.

History will tell ya the whole economy can crash in this country in a few month’s.