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

The people in the above image have a double decker bus, that can be used as a deadly weapon in vehicular manslaughter

The people in the below image have no vehicles, strollers, or flagpoles to be used as improvised weapons

Why what did you see?

See this is where I disagree. The media are quite obviously not reflecting the opinion of the population as evidenced by the response to the refugee crisis. We have seen poll results that show a majority opinion believe that the State has taken in too many, I have yet to see more than two/three articles that goes "well maybe the protesters have a couple of legitimate points" - and that has really only been McDowell as a counterpoint in the IT. Compare that to the onslaught of opinion pieces that ranges from all the protesters are awful people, to really all Irish are latent racists.

While the right is indeed a minority opinion (it isn't tiny though) generally here, the issue is there is no room for any diversity of opinion. It clearly is career suicide to voice a right wing opinion, particularly on social issues as they are clearly not tolerated in journalistic circles.

And that's why we have a homogeneous media.

True journalism died long ago, now its all Propaganda, Fake News and disinformation, Lies, twisted quotations and fear mongering, they are all bought out, and writing from the same script, worldwide. Control the media and you control the mind. Many empathetic journalists have been murdered for trying to tell the truth.

On the issue of refugees, more and more people have have conservative attitudes. The opinion polls shows this increasing.

It doesn't mean if you want a stop on refugees coming that you're entirely right wing.

Most sensible people take it issue by issue and aren't ideological pinned down by some media driven narrative of left and right. This has been made worse by the importation of American divisive rubbish in recent years.

I think the anti-immigration guys will be hugely disappointed at the next general election. The 56% who said in the Indo poll that Ireland has taken in 'too many refugees' will clearly stick with FF, FG, SF, Greens, Labour, PBP etc. Very hard for any party to get TDs elected on a single issue and the manifestos of the anti-immigration parties are likely to be seen as too cranky and off the wall when it comes to other issues.

In what way?

could we not just divert some of the foreign aid into building infrastructure here?

that way when people arrive we can help them.

seems like we're double jobbing

Government are certainly making different noises on this topic, but so far it seems a like a lot of cheap talk, and largely tokenistic. The thing about "random passport checks" exemplifies the new shifty, mealy-mouthed approach. I mean, why "random" passport checks, and how "random" will they be? Nobody knows.

And the public know these are tokenistic so it hasn't dampened public unease about the numbers coming in.

The crisis is going to get worse come Paddy's time when hotels end their contracts and we have thousands of mainly Ukrainian refugees with no where to go. If the State attempts to house these people in council areas, we're going to have further unrest.

The government, who openly advertised for Ukrainians to come here, now have no where to put them.

not what i'm talking about.

The purpose of the Immigrant Investor Program is to enable non-EEA nationals and their families who commit to an approved investment in Ireland to acquire permanent residency (Stamp 4 Visa) in Ireland. The Irish government set up the program in 2012. It estimates that last year the program generated about €140 million for the Irish economy.

did the above actually happen? pay us to become residents for 5 years? that reads like something from an EIIS scheme or flender (the value of your initial investment may go down).

what i'm saying is that if ireland (the taxpayer) has X amount to spend on foreign aid, spread that cost over 2 streams:

1. foreign aid to whatever place to help people
2. spend it in ireland to help the people who arrive here

that should be 1 bucket of funds, not 2

If the Indo 56% Poll is reflective of the nation and a small majority now feel that there are too many refugees & 14% are undecided on the issue, that means only 30% of the population are in favour of the current immigration policy.

The govt have to better communicate with that 70%

Constantly calling them all racist and far right drives division and frustration in that cohort of society as they feel they are not being listened to.

Some empathy from the govt is needed and a more effective way to communicate with people really needs to be found, otherwise the 56% will continue to rise.

Sounding logical to me mr./mrs. Y0ss

IDK the As to your Qs either apologies

The problem is that if they do not release bed capacity then the tourism sector will be dealt a body blow that will take many many years to recover from.

But if the hotels do not renew the contracts, in the mid range scenario there will be a shortfall of 10k beds.

To put that in context, that's the equivalent of the likes of the population of Cavan town suddenly with no place to sleep.

It's a disaster that at this point seems highly likely to occur as there doesn't seem to be a way to avoid it. I feel this may eclipse all other domestic stories this year.

Most "anti immigration guys" don't want the NP in power and would rather the parties above discussed it honestly. Personally I'm getting to not voting territory, but will probably pick a local independent)

The protests (and to be honest the incompetent actions of the government) have made this something to be discussed at the next election. Maybe not the most important issue to people, but one that will be a contributory factor.

We have seen the number of people who see immigration as the most important thing to tackle increase from 2 percent to 12 percent (can't remember the exact figures was a IT/Indo poll) since the last election, that is a massive shift

and then give them a 4 bedroom house, a new car & a brand new buggy. And double welfare & permission to sexually assault. Amazing really. Almost like it's all bollo*