Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)

Multiple Ministers are now saying that net migration is too high but net migration reduced by 25% last year to fewer than 60,000 people. Of the people coming here, about 50% are Irish, UK or EU citizens. The vast majority of the rest are those who are here on work permits to keep our hospitals open, build the homes we desperately need and keep our hospitality sector afloat. Claims for international protection applications are also down significantly, by 40% this year. Why, then, is the Taoiseach and his Government choosing to frame it so negatively? The truth is we need people to come here and work. Our critical public services would grind to a halt if they did not. These workers are telling us they feel a shift, that racism is on the rise and they are reconsidering staying in Ireland and that is the real migration crisis.

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