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    Ellen Coyne: We should be wary of people like Simon Harris playing the issues of homelessness and immigration off against one other
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    Ellen Coyne: We should be wary of people like Simon Harris playing the issues of homelessness and immigration off against one other


    Ellen Coyne: We should be wary of people like Simon Harris playing the issues of homelessness and immigration off against one other

    https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/ellen-coyne-we-should-be-wary-of-people-like-simon-harris-playing-the-issues-of-homelessness-and-immigration-off-against-one-other/a2117720618.html

    Posted by cjamcmahon1

    View 20 Comments

    20 Comments

    1. badger-biscuits on

      We should be wary of people who want to pretend there’s no link.

      Housing shortages accross Europe that are coinciding with massive increases in immigration have created well documented problems.

    2. High_Flyer87 on

      This is the biggest case of Fine Gael trying to capture votes from the far right that I’ve seen.

      They are saying “look over there” and adbicating themselves of any responsibility for the shitshow we are currently in.

      They’ve been in power for 13 years FFS.

    4. davesr25 on

      It’s almost like they would rather you blame, common people, than blame them, I honestly wonder just exactly where, some groupa get their money from………..

      Since the government now seem to agree with them. 

      Funny that. 

      Government to blame end of. 

    7. SpareZealousideal740 on

      I find it annoying that people keep thinking immigration = asylum seekers only.

      Immigration in total is an issue that increases homelessness. We’ve a backlog of people needing houses and more coming in than houses are being built. Of course that’s going to be an issue

    8. ThatGuy98_ on

      I really don’t understand how this has blown up to such an extent. It’s really very simple.

      Do people that are coming to Ireland, be it immigrating for work, or refugees, asylum seekers, IPAs, etc, increase demand for housing/accommodation in the country? Yes.

      Is it *their* fault that there’s a chronic shortage of said housing/accommodation? Absolutely not.

    9. Storyboys on

      Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have stoked the fires on immigration in order to fracture Sinn Feins support. It’s a move straight from the tory playbook, and exactly how they got the brexit vote passed.

      It’s no coincidence that housing and healthcare were replaced by immigration as the topic of discussuon. Point the finger at foreigners while rich white men prosper.

      I would be very interested in seeing if a map of asylum seeker accommodation matches up relatively with a map of where Sinn Fein had a strong voter base.

      There is blood on Drew Harris’ and the governments hands. Innocent people have been killed and assaulted because of their race and identity as a result.

    10. AfroF0x on

      FG have always ridden scapegoats into election years. Remember Leo & his welfare cheats shtick. FFGG are a damn pox on common sense discourse.

    12. minimiriam on

      I mean he has it within his powers to do something about asylum, create a dedicated asylum court at the same level as the high court, akin to the new property court or the commercial court. They speed up one part of the process without thinking about where the next bottle necks are coming from. Actually deport people don’t just throw your hands up and let people stay when they have failed in their applications. I also maybe wrong on this but I don’t think we have any obligation to offer leave to remain, if we are not required to then it should be done away with.

      As regards other immigation, in the last few weeks Harris has made the work visa process easier and more flexible so any increase in that is all on him and his Government. I never understand why they don’t ask the question about why do we need so many non-Eu workers when our labour market is open to 450m people, dare I say it could come down to housing affordability

    14. Goo_Eyes on

      We should be wary of people denying the demand side of a supply/demand equation.

      Yeah, FFG are responsible for immigration aswell but I don’t hear any of the mainstream parties say we’ve taken in too many refugees/asylum seekers. They seem to think it’s possible we can outbuild record population growth.

    16. MegaJackUniverse on

      This is precisely the tactics used in the UK and the US. It crowbars a crack wider and wider, where the least educated and most disenfranchised begin to fester and grumble.

      It’s disingenuous to the highest degree, and our small island nation needs to stay proactive in decrying this putrid bullshit

    17. funpubquiz on

      Its clear from the track record of Harris and FG that there will be even more immigration, less houses and no infrastructure.

      Any kind of change starts with getting rid of FG.

    18. such_is_lyf on

      Extremely cynical. Especially considering issues arising from either are solely his government’s fault

    20. Hour_Mastodon_9404 on

      Harris is a weasel, watch as he inches FG further to the right and embraces all of the Tory-tropes they used to absorb the UKIP vote in Britain.

      FG don’t see the far right as a threat, they see them as a potentially useful tool to neuter their opposition.