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

Dunno, people had the opportunity to reject FF/FG/Lab in GE 2020 and did not. All of these arguments were made back then too - immigration, emigration, welfare shopping, healthcare, housing in particular, taxation value for money.. People were called far-right and racist when pointed out that xx% of social housing lists were foreign-born or that resources such as education, services, were at breaking point.

But no, people were calling radio stations offering accommodation to Syrian refugees, demanding we do our fair EU share in taking in refugees instead of Greece, Spain, Italy being overburdened, demanding we send our Navy to the Med to rescue boats, that we need to uphold our reputation of céad míle fáilte, etc

Michael McNamara is not anti Immigration and not anti vax.

Interesting, I’m unconvinced and I’m unsure if you are being genuine. If the question is would a pro-immigration, pro-asylum person prefer McNamara to be elected over Blighe or one of the various other right-wing candidates, then fine, I accept that you would. McNamara is moderate, critical of immigration but ultimately moderate - to you McNamara is the lesser of two evils. Except, in ideal circumstances as far as you are concerned, neither would be elected, instead the electorate would vote for increased immigration. Which why I think you rant about McNamara, because he appears likely to be elected, and that rankles.

On the other hand, I reckon that despite your assertions to the contrary, McNamara has a credibility which would probably be more productive for those interested in limiting migration and asylum. Even Goldengirl was initially taken in by his policy platform. I reckon there’s more value in that than a person like Blighe, that doesn’t know the system, and doesn’t quite know how to temper his comments. Perhaps you do too. Perhaps that’s the concern!

I'm not sure what you mean by 'your lot' but Michael McNamara is pro Immigration. He is against some of the governments policies and how they are handling things but thats it.

I still think he comes across as intelligent , reasonable and moderate .

My worry would be that he has not declared his interests as regards his chosen group in the EP .

He would be a great asset to the right group and dangerous in the wrong group indeed .

By right I am not talking politically ..I think you know .

Btw I am Dublin so it's academic for me .

instead of Hoard you can use “5-6 legions” if that’s the level of accuracy we are being asked of.

If that's me your referring to I've acknowledged that Denmark has managed to make itself more unattractive than other EU states.

The problem being that it seems to have only managed to push IPAs towards other EU countries, as evidenced by the thousands who've gone missing from it's detention camps, presumed now trying for asylum or living undocumented elsewhere in the EU.

As a larger entity such deterrent policies are unlikely to be effective EU wide, and will fail if more widely adopted. We'll remain more attractive than our Russian neighbour, for people fleeing persecution or desperate poverty in Africa or the middle east, and deterrent policies will fail as they have for the US and Australia where no alternative strong economy democracies are available in reach.

I have noticed the same at outdoor facilities going back a few years. I think this is mainly due to the tiny proportion of Irish who like to get out and about in nature compared to other nationalities. I find it is very obvious on a day like today, when the weather is OK but not sunny and warm. I think this says something more negative about the Irish than about other nationalities.

That's the crux of it for me.

How far will they dwindle down the native Irish population to??

And let's be honest, assylum seekers are only a small percentage of non Irish in the country.

Immigration in general needs to be controlled.

I'm afraid if the next government/EU doesn't act then all hell will break loose and current Michael McNamaras and Mattie McGraths so called right winged views will pale into insignificance compared to those that follow.

Too long for me to read, but I gave it a like for the name …

What exactly do you see wrong with the ethnic breakdown of UK citizens?

Exactly, Denmark demonstrates that a moderate Government is capable of adequately addressing concerns related to immigration and asylum without devolving into radical extremism, which is precisely why the Danish model, despite increasingly popularity in other EU Member States, is maligned. A policy of deterrence would be particularly effective in Ireland, an island on the edge of the EU and one of the last intuitive destinations for asylum seekers. Unfortunately the establishment are opposed to it and the burgeoning right-wing appear to unfamiliar with it.