A popular programme on Kildare FM this morning told listeners that they had asked 16 government TDs and Senators from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Greens to come on the airwaves to debate whether immigration policies were working. Not one was available.
Presenter Eoin Beatty said that an adviser to one TD told the show, in a personal capacity, that it was “very disheartening” to see a local radio discuss the issue.
The KFM the debate would centre around the question of whether Ireland had reached capacity, given that new arrivals as well as Irish people, were struggling to find accommodation.
141,000 people had arrived in the country in the twelve months to April, according to ESRI figures, Mr Beatty said, introducing Peadar Tóibin, Aontú leader and TD for Meath West.
Deputy Tóibín said that a debate on immigration was happening in practically every house in the country except the Houses of the Oireachtas – and that the government’s immigration policies were creating great difficulties across the country especially in communities where there was no consultation and people were left in the dark.
16 Government TD’s were contacted by KFM this morning to come on and debate immigration issue – none were ‘available’. We need a respectful debate on this important topic. Listen below to Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín’s take. #aontú pic.twitter.com/dsvSzCuQOw
— Aontú (@AontuIE) November 30, 2023
He said that only 10% of people who were issued with deportation orders over a 5 year period were deported – and that the government’s immigration policy was unsustainable.
As reported on Gript, it was recently revealed that just 26 of 271 orders issued in 2022 had been enforced.
This year, 761 deportation orders were issued between the end of January and the end of September. Of that number, just 30 had been “effected” – that is to say, that the state authorities actually enforced the deportation order rather than leaving it up to the person themselves.
Just 25 people who were issued with a deportation order to November 13 actually notified the state that they had “self-deported.”
Deputy Tóibín said that many guesthouses and hotels were now housing migrants and refugees which meant that downstream businesses were significantly suffering.
Eoin Beatty said that Leo Varadkar had now said that Ireland was “nearing capacity” and asked if the government was now addressing the issue.