useapen
2024-11-25 09:15:16 UTC
A year on from the riots that shook Dublin have Irelands views on
immigration changed?
The riots began shortly after three children and a school care assistant
were stabbed outside a city centre primary school on 23 November 2023.
It led to a night that would see public transport set alight, shops looted
and dozens arrested.
In the year that followed, misinformation on social media has demonised
asylum seekers, accommodation centres have been attacked and the
government is struggling to get to grips with the issue.
Polls state immigration is far from the front of people's minds in the
upcoming Irish general election on 29 November.
But for the first time ever it is a consideration.
The two main issues, housing and healthcare, are both exacerbated by a
growing population.
Average house prices are now 10.8% higher than at the height of the
previous property boom in April 2007, according to Central Statistics
Office (CSO) figures.
The average rent is 1,955 a month nationally - 43% higher than before the
outbreak of Covid-19.
Almost 150,000 people immigrated to Ireland in the 12 months to the end of
April, according to CSO figures - a 17-year high.
These 149,200 immigrants included 30,000 returning Irish citizens.
Despite asylum seekers not being placed on the same housing lists as Irish
citizens, a blame game has begun over whether immigration numbers are too
high.
A makeshift tent city sprung up this year near the International
Protection Office in Dublin with dozens of tents lining the small area
around the building.
The Irish government admitted accommodation could not be provided for all
those coming to Ireland.
Robberies, assaults, an outbreak of illness and scabies afflicted the men
who were gathered there and the government was criticised for not
protecting the most vulnerable.
Rumours and misinformation abounded on social media, falsely accusing the
men residing there of crime, or falsifying their refugee status.
Aoife Gallagher, from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, who monitors
far right activity says anti-immigrant sentiment is becoming more
organised on social media.
We've generally seen immigration become a more salient issue in Ireland.
I think a lot of that is down to the reaction to the riots, Ms Gallagher
said.
We saw at least five far right councillors being elected during the local
and European elections, all on anti-immigrant tickets."
Ms Gallagher says there has been an escalation of rhetoric and tactics
being used to target immigrants.
"We see consistently, a couple of times every week, horrific attacks on
migrants," she said.
We see people standing outside IPAS centres waiting for asylum seekers in
order to confront them and intimidate them."
"There's a level of political violence that we haven't seen before, Ms
Gallagher added.
What do the parties say?
Independents are gaining in popularity, up by four points to 20% in the
first Irish Times poll of the election.
Many of these are standing on anti-immigration tickets.
Almost all the parties running in the general election agree that
Irelands current immigration system isnt working.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin have all called for big changes.
Sinn Féin said they would introduce a new dedicated immigration management
agency.
The agency would ensure cohesion around planning, sharing of
information, and speedy decision-making.
The current system doesnt work for anybody," Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou
McDonald said.
"Weve chaotic management with different bodies and government departments
acting independently of one another."
Fine Gael said they would implement a means-tested, income-linked
contribution towards state accommodation for asylum seekers.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil said they would automatically deem ineligible any
applicant who has already been refused an asylum application in another EU
member state.
All three have been accused at one time or another of scapegoating
immigrants.
When the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris made a link between
immigration rates and the levels of homelessness, the Irish Refugee
Council described Mr Harris' comments as "problematic and not logical".
'People feel very unsafe'
Dr Ebun Joseph, Special Rapporteur Racial Equality and Racism Ireland said
finger pointing at asylum seekers has made Ireland a more tense place.
People feel very unsafe, she said.
You cant hide your colour. Immigration is first to be blamed for the
housing crisis, thrown under the bus as the cause."
Dr Joseph said she hoped people would "vote wisely" and ask candidates
about their immigration policies.
"Ireland is not going to go back to the day where we are all white Irish,"
she added.
"So if we're not going to go back there, how can we not work together to
make it safe for everybody who lives here?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4n97wv432o
immigration changed?
The riots began shortly after three children and a school care assistant
were stabbed outside a city centre primary school on 23 November 2023.
It led to a night that would see public transport set alight, shops looted
and dozens arrested.
In the year that followed, misinformation on social media has demonised
asylum seekers, accommodation centres have been attacked and the
government is struggling to get to grips with the issue.
Polls state immigration is far from the front of people's minds in the
upcoming Irish general election on 29 November.
But for the first time ever it is a consideration.
The two main issues, housing and healthcare, are both exacerbated by a
growing population.
Average house prices are now 10.8% higher than at the height of the
previous property boom in April 2007, according to Central Statistics
Office (CSO) figures.
The average rent is 1,955 a month nationally - 43% higher than before the
outbreak of Covid-19.
Almost 150,000 people immigrated to Ireland in the 12 months to the end of
April, according to CSO figures - a 17-year high.
These 149,200 immigrants included 30,000 returning Irish citizens.
Despite asylum seekers not being placed on the same housing lists as Irish
citizens, a blame game has begun over whether immigration numbers are too
high.
A makeshift tent city sprung up this year near the International
Protection Office in Dublin with dozens of tents lining the small area
around the building.
The Irish government admitted accommodation could not be provided for all
those coming to Ireland.
Robberies, assaults, an outbreak of illness and scabies afflicted the men
who were gathered there and the government was criticised for not
protecting the most vulnerable.
Rumours and misinformation abounded on social media, falsely accusing the
men residing there of crime, or falsifying their refugee status.
Aoife Gallagher, from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, who monitors
far right activity says anti-immigrant sentiment is becoming more
organised on social media.
We've generally seen immigration become a more salient issue in Ireland.
I think a lot of that is down to the reaction to the riots, Ms Gallagher
said.
We saw at least five far right councillors being elected during the local
and European elections, all on anti-immigrant tickets."
Ms Gallagher says there has been an escalation of rhetoric and tactics
being used to target immigrants.
"We see consistently, a couple of times every week, horrific attacks on
migrants," she said.
We see people standing outside IPAS centres waiting for asylum seekers in
order to confront them and intimidate them."
"There's a level of political violence that we haven't seen before, Ms
Gallagher added.
What do the parties say?
Independents are gaining in popularity, up by four points to 20% in the
first Irish Times poll of the election.
Many of these are standing on anti-immigration tickets.
Almost all the parties running in the general election agree that
Irelands current immigration system isnt working.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin have all called for big changes.
Sinn Féin said they would introduce a new dedicated immigration management
agency.
The agency would ensure cohesion around planning, sharing of
information, and speedy decision-making.
The current system doesnt work for anybody," Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou
McDonald said.
"Weve chaotic management with different bodies and government departments
acting independently of one another."
Fine Gael said they would implement a means-tested, income-linked
contribution towards state accommodation for asylum seekers.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil said they would automatically deem ineligible any
applicant who has already been refused an asylum application in another EU
member state.
All three have been accused at one time or another of scapegoating
immigrants.
When the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris made a link between
immigration rates and the levels of homelessness, the Irish Refugee
Council described Mr Harris' comments as "problematic and not logical".
'People feel very unsafe'
Dr Ebun Joseph, Special Rapporteur Racial Equality and Racism Ireland said
finger pointing at asylum seekers has made Ireland a more tense place.
People feel very unsafe, she said.
You cant hide your colour. Immigration is first to be blamed for the
housing crisis, thrown under the bus as the cause."
Dr Joseph said she hoped people would "vote wisely" and ask candidates
about their immigration policies.
"Ireland is not going to go back to the day where we are all white Irish,"
she added.
"So if we're not going to go back there, how can we not work together to
make it safe for everybody who lives here?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4n97wv432o