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

The "leaders" names are printed beside the party in my post.

They are also the 2 "parties" organising the bulk of the protests.

So, who did you think the OP was referring to?

All the do gooders at that march while immigrants out working on a Saturday for terrible pay.

The thing is, nearly 6B worth of taxpayer funds is being spent on these NGOs. Isn't that the ultimate grift? 6 Billion Euro! We can surely abolish 90% of these and put the money into housing, healthcare etc instead?

Where do you think that 6 billion goes? You have no idea have you? 😂

Are the prorests themselves not a straw man argument from both points of view, if the discussion is centred around Irelands immigration policy.

Both the Pro and Anti immigration protests are low in number.

So they are largely irrelevant in terms of reflecting public sentiment.

The recent Indo? Poll said 56% were against the current govt policy and 14% were unsure. Leaving only 30% in favour of the current policy.

The Poll perhaps reflects more of a Macro view of how the population feels vs both sets of protests that are micro views.

If the Poll doesnt represent wider opinion, what would be a better measure? I dont know the answer.

It's going exactly where you said it should go.

But for some reason you want to abolish 90% of it. Now it is 20%?

You seem to really have thought it through anyway. 👍️

Publicity of this march today could lead to an increase in refugees coming here given that #refugeeswelcome.

Yeah, dont disagree.

The hard part is cutting through the extremists, whom shout the loudest at either end of the spectrum, and really understanding public sentiment.

There doesnt seem to be a way to accuratley measure it and if it is changing etc.

The thing about polls is that you can be for or against something without being particularly energised by it. I think way too much was read into the 56% saying recently that Ireland had taken in "too many refugees" in the last year. They might answer that in an opinion poll without ever even having reason to discuss the subject with family or friends i.e. not a priority or burning issue for them. You might as well be asking them about wind farms or the Irish Protocol.

Massive crack down the social lines in this country now

all those flags and organisations that used to represent you now don’t

Is that immigrants rights everywhere, Irish abroad, etc? What a horrid little world that would be.

Personally I preferred Christy when he was having the craic, but he wouldn't convince me to think immigrants anywhere should have less rights.

That would be bonkers.

in fairness it was a very left wing March.

All the unions and NGOs there and to top it off, the bould christy moore god bless us singing some left wing anthem

I do find it odd that groups like forsa and the national women's council have gone all in on this - particularly the latter as most AS are coming from countries with cultures not too keen on women's rights.

In any case we may be starting to see a split cement itself in society but isn't clear yet how firm the pro migration control side in their opinions. When looking at support for each side one has to consider that it is much much politically safer to be open about your support for migration than to be against it. This is perhaps playing out in the relative visible sizes of each group and looks like it isn't reflective of polling on the matter

Nice photo of the crowd there