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

I want a say in this entire immigration disaster.

Everyone should have a say.

The representatives of this country do not, in fact, represent the will of of this country.

Nobody had a say in it before, and now that it's clown town territory, this is the moment to see what ireland as a country of people wants for their own good.

A referendum was needed years upon years ago. The next best time is now.

Like all referenda, get a quality information booklet out to every home, spelling out all the demographic changes, all the pro's and con's, employment numbers, unemployment numbers, who's who in those statistics, the impact good and bad on housing, healthcare, education. Throw in projected numbers too, like the amount of new housing in 5 years versus the amount of extra people expected in 5 years.

Quality information backed up amply.

Then let people make an informed decision. It's a hell of a lot better than not letting people make a decision at all.

A rapidly changing world demands new policies, and those policies are to be created by the Irish people.

No immigration referendum, no vote. Let every politician and adjacent know it point blank.

They have time and effort to implement utterly useless referendums like the changing of a few words in the "women in the home" yoke.

Immigration is, patently obvious, a burning question that has impact on multiple factors of society. It's getting bigger and bigger and its not going to diminish magically.

So yes, I want a specific referendum on immigration, and it's quite clear many, many others do too.

Narrowed down from the obvious choices of "more", "unchanged" or "less", with thoughtful input to flesh out those choices in some numerical terms.

Anyone against a democratic vote on a highly contentious and impactful national issue is on the losing side, know it, and want it avoided at all costs. Natural enough.

No immigration referendum, no vote. Let it be made clear.

I already answered your question as to the form it should take. Instead of asking the question twice, read carefully once.

When the politicians and hopeful representatives come looking for peoples votes, they should be told that they won't get a vote without the feasible promise of an immigration referendum. If they do, they get the vote.

People want a say in what's happening in their own country, and immigration (all its flavours) is right up there in terms of impact, be it housing or culture and all in between.

It's serious. And it's well beyond time for democracy to have its direct and specific say on it.

Again, no immigration referendum offered, no vote.

He’s already answered your question. Stop derailing this thread with your nonsense posts.

I already told you that instead of asking a question twice, read the answer once. That goes for asking three times too.

It wouldn't be any leap to infer that you're against such a referendum, under the guise of "its not needed" covering "uh oh, democracy isn't on my side and I know it well". But that's neither here nor there.

Any politician or adjacent that reasonably promises an immigration referendum gets my vote. It's top priority because it is an issue affecting and exacerbating just about every other facet of societal infrastructure.

And it's the same for huge amounts of this country, they want a say in the biggest societal change seen in this country this century.

Again, it's very serious and demands a serious political response and a serious representation of the country's people.

Anyone who doesn't want it, well, that's easy to understand where they're coming from.

No harm to those who think "it doesn't matter" if it takes place anyway then.

All good. Everyone gets a say, democracy wins, politicians do their jobs, and everyone can sleep easy afterwards knowing that specific important questions on society have been answered fairly and squarely.

So, no immigration referendum, no vote. Immigration referendum, you get the vote. Let every politician know when they come knocking. And every other opportunity before that too.

Jaysus you must be **** yourself at the thought of what you think Irish people would decide if they were allowed.

We all know the answer as to why this gigantic elephant in the room hasn't been dared addressed in any meaningful way. Because its plain bad news for irish people, no matter what way you cut it. Thats why they havent been allowed a say in it.

But we needn't argue over it. Put it to the test, a democratic, informed, public debate that has enforceable action behind it. Anyone with even a shred of confidence in their ideas or beliefs would back it. And those without confidence will try to deny democracy.

Simple as that.