Ireland running out of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees due to surge in non-Ukrainian refugees?

I've been trying very hard to understand why our politicians are so slow to change policy in the face of a breakdown of the immigration system and a revolt on the part of voters.

Some part of it could be the (self comforting) belief expressed by some here and also by Sara Carey today in the Indo "most people here are very much behind the refugee policy, despite the high cost."

I think it's something else though. Charlie Haughey would never have lost touch with the electorate this way in the first place and if he had he would have moved very quickly to correct it.

What we got from Leo this week was a very tentative toe in the water trying out the langage of robust borders and sending some home. Why so wary. Why so slow.

My theory: The relationship between our political class and Europe has degenerated in to something coercive and abusive. They have been robbed of confidence and need approval. Now that the time has come to do the sensible thing on immigration they lack the confidence, will or self belief to make changes that Europe would look down its nose at.

Leo's tentative steps are those of someone emerging from an abusive relationship and trying to rediscover the ability to make choices for themselves.

Hence the really puzzling delay in acting on immigration.

Look at todays announcement that we might remove some of the pull factor for immigrants by cutting back on welfare supports. Having adopted that principle could we then make proposals of our own for implementing it? No, we can only allow ourselves to do such a thing by looking for and mimicing examples of how it is done in other European countries.

According to sources who have seen the document, it states that “research suggests reducing or limiting the scope of Ireland’s offering would more greatly align our position with the overall approach being taken in other member states.” The “overall offering,” it goes on, “has more elements and is unlimited – different to some other EU member states”.

As to whether benefits or entitlements could change, O'Gorman said: “If it was a measure that was being adopted on a European-wide basis I think we endeavour to keep ourselves consistent with a pan-member state approach” – agreeing that it would need to be “broadly consistent” with approaches seen elsewhere.

Some ministers believe the renewal of the Temporary Protection directive in the spring may present an opportunity, especially if it was co-ordinated at a European level.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2023/02/04/it-feels-as-if-were-scrambling-and-other-people-are-setting-the-agenda/

Abuse victims emerging blinking in to the light. Anyone buying it?

Ireland is mostly a self deporting State there are very few enforced deportations, I'm well aware of that but also most people with deportation orders against them do not self deport or are not forcefully deported, they generally brazen it out and get to stay

100% agree, and of course Harris knows this, as does anyone who knows anything about the asylum system. This is just thrown out there to placate an increasingly frustrated public, and smacks of PR desperation. Its a good working assumption that once they come in, they won't leave. So any serious policy must focus on reducing the incentive to come. Reducing benefits, broadly construed, is the obvious way to do that.

@Strazdas this table has the number of deportation orders which were effected (effected means enforced and self deportation)

For example 2019 there were 2016 adults and 187 minors who recevied deportation orders 299 adults and 14 children subject to those deportation orders either self deported or were subject to enforced deportation. In 2018 1116 adults and 85 minors were subject to DO and 163 adults and 4 minors either self deported or were subject to enforced deportation

This table has it from 2004 https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2022-10-26/148/