LIMERICK Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan has claimed that the government’s failure to manage migration processes has led to an erosion of public confidence and a wave of far-right fear and hate.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Quinlivan took the view that this stems from a failure to manage the system but equally a failure to communicate with local communities.
This failure, the Limerick politician believes, is being exploited by far-right agitators, often from outside of the State, to spread fear and hate.
“Local communities, where they have legitimate concerns, need to be listened to. Our IPAS system must be fair for both our citizens and those seeking international protection,” the Limerick TD told the Dáil. “The Ukrainian accommodation recognition payment contributes to the belief that things are not equal.”
He went called for an international protection system that is “fit for purpose”, adding that it is essential that Ireland continues to be a welcoming country.
“Those who have made Ireland their home contribute enormously to our economy and communities. Those who are granted protection must be welcomed, supported, and integrated,” he said.
“In the summer of 1988, having graduated from third level, like thousands of others, I boarded a plane at Shannon Airport with a tourist visa and headed to New York City. I worked there for 18 months and later returned to Ireland. Unfortunately, due to government policies at the time, unemployment was rampant.
“As I was unable to access employment in Ireland, I secured a job in London, where I spent nine years. I was fortunate enough to be able to come home. I am sure there are many more Irish people across the world who would like to return but they see the housing crisis and the ever-rising cost of living as barriers. We must do more to encourage and help them to come home.”
Addressing inward migration, Deputy Quinilvan said that “in March 2022, the Taoiseach said that as many as 200,000 refugees could arrive from Ukraine. There was no plan whatsoever to deal with that projected figure, and we struggled to deal with the half of that number who eventually came to Ireland.”
“Approximately €1.2billion is being spent on IPAS accommodation, with hundreds of millions of more euro for Ukrainian refugees. A small number of people are getting rich from the government’s dysfunctional approach to accommodation,” he said.
“Between the number of deportation orders signed and the actual numbers of deportation, there is a huge gap. In 2024, there were 2,400 orders with only 156 confirmed deportations. The level of enforcement is not good enough.”