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

How can you possibly say it’s a completely separate issue?

There is a finite pot of emergency accommodation and both asylum seekers and Irish citizens in hard times are competing for that same accommodation. If there were no Irish people there would be plenty of accommodation available for asylum seekers. If no asylum seekers there would be plenty emergency accommodation for Irish people in difficulty.

They are directly related issues.

Yes, neither Asylum seekers nor Irish people in difficulty are the cause of this lack of accommodation. Yet here we are.

We have to be realistic and pragmatic here when discussing real life issues. It’s all very well to say we “should” have this and we “should” have that but that butters no parsnips. Let’s talk about the REALITY of the situation.

Yes the government makes it worse by allowing no cap Ukrainian refugees , best welfare rates in the EU most asylum seekers get to stay regardless of safe country or claim . .

I'm not quite sure what you are asking here?

You know this thread is not about me yeah?

Well, you complain about the polarisation and divisiveness of debate today and yet through your very own comment you explicitly purport to claim that those who disagree with you on this issue can simply be dismissed into little categories that demonstrate how wrong they are. You leave absolutely no room for the notion that maybe, just maybe, there are certain realities at play in the world around us that make the handling of refugees (and the negative impacts of it) something which is hard to avoid outright and hard to get absolutely perfectly right in ways that only work to some inviolable net benefit of the host country.

I don't think that one can ever argue about this matter in good faith if they think their opponents on this view only think along the lines of your categories — leaving no room for any notion that they may have quite rational and reasonable beliefs. That's precisely the polarisation you claim to dislike ....

I agree on the purpose built centres (but not anything resembling a prison! )

it would also mean that claims would be dealt with much quicker as the country couldn't keep asylum seekers in these centres too long.

it's clear that the war in Ukraine has had a massive impact on the refugee figures all over Europe, but I would hope it will end, I believe most Ukrainian people would like to go home if possible. I don't know what else we can do about it though? Would you honestly stop receiving refugees from Ukraine?

Reading that article, the Bank of Ireland.

"Their opinions appear to be backed up by Bank of Ireland's latest survey of credit and debit card spending, which showed not one county saw increased spending last month, with counties such as Dublin (down 7%), Mayo (-6%), Monaghan (-6%), Kerry (- 6%) and Donegal (-4%) all experiencing spending dips relative to the previous month. Data also showed many people flocked to foreign climes in June despite the favourable weather at home, with spending rising in Croatia (up 71%), Greece (+55%) Italy (+32%), Portugal (+22%) and Spain (+13%)."

When a lot of tourist accommodation is taken up by Roderic O'Gorman's invitees, there is less supply and what's remaining costs more. As you can see from the Bank of Ireland survey most people are voting with their feet and holidaying abroad.

The article suggests there are other causes for the downturn in tourism too. I suspect that is actually the case. Paul Treyvaud is partially right in blaming government on over reliance of hotels and responders to Paul Treyvaud are correct in saying that costs of tourist products here in Ireland are off putting.

The facts do really appear to be nuanced in that not all the blame can be put at the doors of refugees as Paul Treyvaud would like to do.

Which citizens are missing out on accommodation? 40% are non Irish homeless people, 60% are Irish homeless people. That is a breakdown of the numbers of homeless.

I'm not aware of thousands of people missing out on accommodation, that's not an issue. Unless I'm wrong, and there are thousands of people sleeping on the streets?

What is an issue is that anyone is being placed in emergency accommodation, it shouldn't happen in a country as well off as Ireland is. That's the disgrace. That's what needs to change and quickly. Not rating homeless people on their ethnicity.

Can you clarify what point you are trying to make about Greens? Are you honestly suggesting that no Green TD or Senator has a hotel in their constituency hosting asylum seekers or refugees?

Exactly, thousands and thousands of miles to be safe … yeah right it’s not for assylum, it’s for a new life and better opportunities in the main…

if ireland was say invaded by the Spanish…. Im off to the UK if they’d have me where I’ve family and only 90 minutes from home… not Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Dubai, UAE, Qatar, Egypt or Eritrea …

the entire continent of Europe is about a third the size of the continent of Africa

That's what this entire thread is about- blaming refugees for everything that is currently wrong in Ireland.

Yeah and the refugees did the RTE scandal too!!!

Would you ever give over with your sensationalism.

For the umpteenth time, nobody is blaming refugees for causing everything wrong with Ireland.

However we are in the midst of a housing and health crisis, and they do add additional burden on our already overstrained services.

A small country town with one, maybe two GPs has 500 new arrivals placed there. Are you genuinely suggesting this has no impact on GP access for the existing population that were there?

That’s all people are highlighting - that we’re not currently in a position ourselves to be providing everything to everyone.

You don’t set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.