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

I find it hard to believe that refugees are buying houses. There was a report on Tuesday saying that couples with a combined income of €80,000 a year cannot afford to take out a new mortgage in Ireland (and a situation that has certainly not been caused by immigration either).

This is the biggest issue really.

The country has been changed irrevocably by this misadventure over the last 2 years.

In reality what will happen next is those already here (Ukrainians or otherwise) will be allowed remain as long as they want at taxpayer expense, and when they have been here long enough, McEntee or her successor will seal the deal with a citizenship ceremony and puff piece on RTE thus making them our responsibility permanently. We've seen it happen numerous times already. I see no evidence of anything different in the future.

Meanwhile, communities which have had hundreds of people parachuted into their midst will continue to deal with the fallout of increased strain on housing, GP and hospital access, school places and all the other pressures that are an obvious (to all except those making the decisions) result of this.

The other result of this is the further polarisation and division of our society with the ongoing idiocy of calling anyone who questions the situation as "far right" - thank you America once again for exporting your social problems to the easily influenced!

We now live in a country where reasonable questions are ignored, misrepresented or demonised, and a Government seeking to formalise this arrangement with its imminent "hurt feelings" legalisation - McEntee once again!

But ultimately Ireland will never be the same, and while immigration and social change can certainly be a good and welcome thing, too much too soon - without planning, discussion or even logic - can be disastrous as we've now seen.

The problems we've seen are only the beginning. In another decade or so we'll be in the same position as countries like the UK, Germany or France. No I'm not clairvoyant, but I know that Ireland isn't special and we won't somehow magically escape the same outcomes - if anything they may well be worse given the distinct lack of quality in our TDs and their tendency to make a situation that much worse by not only repeating the mistakes of those others, but adding an "Irish twist" to compound them.

I did say several years back though that immigration would be the key electoral issue yet with the way we were heading, and that FG are even more dangerous in Government than even FF - which is why they're never elected on their own merit but as a protest vote, and only until they remind us why that is...... And here we are!

Our country has always been far from perfect - too limited by a "need" for approval or validation by our betters (whether it be keeping up with the neighbours or subservience to our "friends" in the EU), too parochial (rarely thinking beyond our own gate or immediate family), and too quick to hand over the reins (to the Church, then the EU), but at least we did previously have some level of input and control over the direction of things... Now we have overpaid TDs who forget they represent us signing us up for things we weren't asked about and which they have no mandate for, and a country falling apart in many ways while they do so.

Charity and welcoming others in need is all very noble and worthwhile... But not when it comes at the expense of those asked to support that generosity, and not when the consequences are so severe that the fundamental social contract is jeapordised in the process which is exactly where we find ourselves.

Unfortunately though, as I said at the start of this post, things are already beyond the point of return. Now all we can do is try to control the damage and deal with the changes that will inevitably result - most of which will unfortunately be negative as we've seen elsewhere.

The Ireland we knew is gone. The only thing we can do is remember how we got here and use our limited say in proceedings wisely over the next year or so.

Last nightclub in Tramore, Waterford set to close and be converted into more hotel rooms. Hotel has been closed to the public for some time now with the majority of the previous bar/nightclub space already converted into rooms.

Do we actually have to go round the houses on this again

Are you genuinely saying if supply is already majorly strained that massively increasing demand isn’t also an issue? Junior cert economics pop quiz - what happens when demand spikes while supply remains the same?? Price rises for everyone

It’s always the same line trotted out by you lot. No, I am not blaming the refugees for the state of our housing woes. But they do exacerbate those woes, that is a fact.

We should be increasing supply while constraining demand as much as possible. We’re barely increasing supply and not at all to the level required for the extra demand we’re actively importing. It’s actually so bloody dumb I can hardly believe it.

I'm still not sure how anyone can look at an oversubscribed rental market and come to the conclusion that demand is the problem and not the lack of supply. There's almost a touch of 'How dare these people want places to rent?' about such a stance - as bonkers as that sounds.

Why can't it be both?

I see Helen McEntee is talking about expanding the list of safe countries and increasing fines for airlines where their passengers arrived with no documents.

Maybe they should stop these people been allowed to work after the 6 months up. This might stop the economic migrants and stop with the voluntary deportation orders.

Nowhere in that article does it say that most asylum seekers are coming from safe countries

The Minister of Justice is to expand the list of "safe countries" in a bid to cut down on the numbers arriving here seeking international protection.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mcentee-to-expand-list-of-safe-countries-to-cut-down-on-asylum-seekers-1580180.html

Some posters here must be absolutely gutted.

No it wouldn’t be before them. But wouldn’t be surprised if it happens in the Autumn.

Of those, only Georgia is currently listed as a safe country. It will be interesting to see which ones they change.

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The current advice from the DFA I'd that the threat.fron terrorism is high. To go from the to "everything is great over there" would be a fairly dramatic and sudden change.

Head of the hoteliers on Pat Kenny actually having the balls to say the Ukrainians staying in their hotels has been a massive bonus for hotel owners because of the money they are receiving.

Making money off other peoples misery and actually admitting it with glee. They must love Putin and hope he continues this war for years to come.

Anyway the numbers coming have reduced hugely because of the new rules but she thinks the ones staying in unsuitable places like halls etc should now be moved into hotels where room has become available since the numbers dropped.

Pure greed.

Anyway seems we will have loads more room for IPAs with the space being freed up so all this madness isn’t stopping anytime soon.