What would the unemployment level be in Ireland if emigration were not, once again, the safety valve it has traditionally been?
The likelihood is that the current unemployment rate of 14.6 percent in December 2012 would be at least three or four points higher.
After all, 87,000 left the country between April 2011 and April 2012, a staggering number. It’s more than the number who sat for the Leaving Certificate, the Irish equivalent of the SATs for that period.
If that keeps up we will be witnessing emigration on a scale not seen since Famine times, surely an incredible scenario in modern Ireland.
It all revolves around the financial crisis of course, and how successive Irish governments have handled the default of the Irish banks.
At the World Economic Conference in Davos last week billionaire businessman George Soros had no doubt that the Irish crisis had been badly mishandled, especially in relation to Iceland which faced a similar trial.
"If you compare the fate of Ireland with the fate of Iceland, Iceland is actually flourishing, although it had a bigger banking crisis than Ireland in relation to its population, because it simply did not accept the liabilities of the banks," he said. "But Ireland was not so lucky."
Not so lucky, or not so smart? Last week also marked the 100th week in a row that the residents of the tiny Cork town of Ballyhea marched against the payoff to bondholders of failed banks.
CNN, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post and many other media outlets have recorded the stand of the tiny village against the European bailout terms,
Protest organizer Diarmuid O’Flynn, (a former sports reporter for the Irish Voice), who is now a sports journalist with the Irish Examiner, told the 200 present in foul weather conditions the march is gaining support every week.
As reported in The Irish Times he said, “We have people from all over the country. And hopefully … people will start to make the link between the austerity … and the bond payments that are continuing to be made … that when people complain about the household charge, stealth taxes and water taxes, they should know that these are a consequence of the austerity measures being forced upon us while the government pays billions to foreign bondholders.”
Read more stories on Irish immigration here
So from the little streets of Ballyhea to the great streets of Davos, there is massive second-guessing going on over what the current and past Irish governments have committed themselves too.
It is beginning to look like that Vietnam analogy where they had to destroy the village to save it.
How much more can the Irish taxpayers take? Yet there was no sign of an easing in the European banks position last week when they simply told the Irish leader Enda Kenny that his proposed plan to extend repayments out over a much longer period would not fly.
The sad part is that Kenny and other leaders for the foreseeable future will be going cap in hand to Europe, the new imperial power in Ireland, seeking relief from the crushing financial burdens.
The harsh reality is that the cure may well be killing the patient in Ireland, or making him even more ill at least.
It will take an uncommon political courage to acknowledge that reality and insist on a new deal with Europe that focuses on fairness and ability to pay.
However, it may well come down to that if the downward spiral of unemployment and emigration continues.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.eiriamach | Feb 07, 2013, 02:40 PM EST
Seanmor, I'm no elitist about education. The most important education I've had was on the streets of a working-class urban neighborhood. A person can spend many years in universities and emerge perfectly stupid, with impenetrable layers of ideology smothering the brain. Americans are particularly susceptible to education-as-ideology, and the gaeilgeoiri group I referred to is full of professionals with degrees, most of them, however, from Catholic colleges where censorship of diverse or progressive ideas is standard procedure, replicated in the enforced political conformity of the gaeilgeoiri group. Hence Woundedknee's continuous attempts to silence me and others whose opinions diverge from his. Such behavior is the antithesis of "educated" and relies on bullying tactics. Your politics would fit in perfectly with that group. Would you share their intolerance also? I have no idea. It has nothing to do with the ivy league or any ivory towers. It's entirely a matter of whether the mind has ever been opened by contact with diverse personalities, cultures, ideas, or even reality, or whether it clings desperately to its homogeneous group to insulate itself from the real world.
barnie4001 | Feb 07, 2013, 01:16 PM EST
when the polititions starts leaving like the rats leaving a ship then ireland will recover
PassingBy | Feb 03, 2013, 07:16 PM EST
I see the bigoted Norman 'holier than thou' attitude flows through your blood then?Or do you just love to spew your ignorance all over random comment sections and generalize an entire populace of people you've never even met?
Seanmor | Feb 03, 2013, 06:38 PM EST
eiri: You comdemn Woundedk and his Gaelgeoirí pals)for their lack of education education, among other things. It is probably that there is a handful of those Gaeilgeoirí who never earned college degrees. I had nothingf more that a primary school education (agus cúpla focal Gaeilge when I joined the Marine Corp as a 'greenhorn' in NYC. Four months later,I held Gaeilge classes at Camp Lejune, N.C. 2 0r 3 evenings a week, when I wasn't on liberty in Jacksonville, which had different aiting rooms for White and Colored at the bus station. I once spend 15 minutes in the Colored waiting room even tho is was an arrestable offince. But I never supported forced school busing or voted for any politician who favors killing the unborn or same-sex marriage.
WoundedKnee | Feb 03, 2013, 12:47 PM EST
Like most bigots, eiriamach, you're an utter fool. You attack me, as is common on this site, not for what I have said but for what you say I said. Specifically, you speak of me bashing Obama. You're a true clown, eiramach, since the only (and very few) references I have made to Obama were to state that as an anti-war progressive I was disappointed with Obama's performance in his first term and specifically his continuation of the Bush approach to foreign policy. As to Mrs Clinton, I don't recall ever writing about her, though as a progressive I never expected much from her. As to my education, eiriamach, you know nothing of me, so I won't waste further time responding to a stupid bigot such as you. Of course your true motive for attacking me is nothing to do with my politics, it's because I have condemned you for your association with Protestant fundamentalist churches, your buddies who gave ideological cover to right-wing death squads in countries such as Guatemala and Chile.
eiriamach | Feb 02, 2013, 08:45 PM EST
How's your health these days, Woundedknee? I ask because I'm wondering how much longer Irish-descended Americans will have to put up with you. Outside of your tiny, dwindling group of inbred, aging American Obama-bashing, Hillary-bashing Gaeilgeoiri pals, you've failed to find enough fellow racists among your compatriots, so now you're sniping and growling at the Irish visitors to IrishCentral! But Woundedknee, the average Irish person (like the average American liberal) is vastly better educated than you, has seen more of an ever-diverse world, and has a functioning brain unburdened by your ideological fantasy of threatened ethnicity. It would be amusing to watch you fail again and again, if we didn't have to hear the same old dull, monotonous drumbeat of intolerance again and again.
anglo-norman | Feb 02, 2013, 03:48 PM EST
The Irish in Ireland will never change or progress. There is still a primitive tribal mentality at play. A special gift for turning positivity into negativity & then blaming others for their ineptness. Yeats was spot on with his insights on the fantastical irish mind-set.
Freeman | Feb 02, 2013, 01:43 PM EST
Please wounded knee, do not lecture me about economics, after all you are the one that created and are now living with that lousy economy. You are angry because of that, but no one other than you and your fellow Irishmen are to blame for this economic mess in your country.You did default wounded knee on a huge loan from the EMF.You continue to ignore this major corrupt scheme employed by you and your corrupt government, by pushing the blame on to some poor foreign nationals from third world countries. The world is not blind ,you defaulted ,you stole, you must accept that.Please do not try and fool us all by telling us that the Irish tax payer is footing the bill for all of Europe,s poor. Ireland joined the EU and stole from it,you are part of the EU now, it is just as legal for foreign nationals to live in Ireland as it is for Irish people to live in Europe.The people of Europe have to pay now for the money you stole,that is not fair.Pay your debts first , then maybe you can lecture me on economics.
IrelandNorth | Feb 02, 2013, 01:42 PM EST
Ireland was bought and sold for English gold in the 19th century, and for European gold in the 21st. Same dynamic, different nationalities! Just the same old political caste betraying its own peasantry. The motivation is that foreign nationals make ideal employees, work for less, no holiday pay, sick leave or pension entitlement, ie are eminently exploitable being far from home. Do the maths!
WoundedKnee | Feb 02, 2013, 12:37 PM EST
What a load of garbage from the poster misleadingly styled Freeman. Firstly, there is the incoherent nonsense that I should "pay my debts"? Debts owed to who, you clown? Earlier he says "it is ok for you to immigrate". Immigrate where, you idiot, I have never immigrated to anywhere in my life. What an ignoramus you are. But worse, you're a lousy racist. You want Irish nationality and ethnicity to be wiped from the face of the earth. You may prevaricate all you like, but that is what will happen within the lifetime of many who read this. Ireland cannot continue to send its young people abroad while importing vast numbers of Poles, Latvians, Chinese, Burundis, Borneans, Bengalis and any of the 100 nationalities now streaming into Ireland. And you're a garbage economist too, "freeman", because you think it makes sense for Irish workers to pay for the schooling, health care, housing, prison places, welfare etc demanded by these migrants. And you're ignorant too "freeman", because you didn't even know that Ireland pays for these migrants, NOT the EU. The Irish don't "pay the taxes" for these people, you oaf, they PA for them. Why do you hate diversity and difference? Maybe you would justify your disgusting anti-Irish racism (are you English?) by explaining to us what was deficient in the Irish that made them not worthy--in the view of racists like you--to remain among the ethnic and national groups of the world. Will the world be better off when the Irish no longer exist as an ethnic group? I suppose you would say Yes, but then again you are nothing but a racist bigot.
warrenpoint00 | Feb 02, 2013, 09:53 AM EST
This is not Ireland we are talking about here.This is the Irish Free State,and we Irish are totally ashamed of it.It is not sinking again, it was always sunk, since its inception, it has been and always will be .Maybe it is time to bring these poor people in from the cold.
Smyrnian | Feb 02, 2013, 07:38 AM EST
Anglo - and the people in the US elected a socialist idiot. So what. Everyone is doing it these days.
anglo-norman | Feb 01, 2013, 11:56 PM EST
The Irish in Ireland have no one to blame but themselves at the end of the day. Stupidity & Greed of the Celtic Tiger fantasy. Irish people voting in people who they know to be inept crooks time & time again. The Irish in Ireland live in their own heads that have been fed on fantasy & alcohol induced reasoning. I had hoped that they would take a long hard objective look at themselves after this latest disaster but sadly I was wrong.
Freeman | Feb 01, 2013, 09:44 PM EST
Obviously you seem to be anti immigrant wounded knee ,its seems to me it is ok for you to immigrate (87,ooo approx), but it is not ok for immigrants to come in to your country.I am sure those 87,ooo Irish immigrants are putting a burden on someone else,s system, but then that is ok with you as long as it is not hurting your beloved Irish system. Your argument about paying taxes on money borrowed from the EU does not make sense either,your government and people borrowed alright,boy did they borrow, and then defaulted on their debts leaving other European nations to pick up the tab, but that is ok with you too as long as the Irish and their corrupt government prevail.Seems to me you are only paying back to other European immigrants that what was already theirs to begin with.Pay your debts wounded knee, it is the least you can do.
Ron | Feb 01, 2013, 09:31 PM EST
Further to my comment of yesterday about the Irish emigrating here to Australia, today's Sydney Morning Herald (page 5) reports that 52,000 Irish folk came here in the year til October 2012. And...many of the young women became...wait for it, lollipop ladies - or traffic control specialists, if you want to tart it up a bit.One developer is quoted as employing 100 traffic controllers, 85% of them Irish, and mostly females. Many of them have degrees but can't get jobs in Ireland. They earn $27 per hour which is good money, just for standing around with a lollipop sign getting a nice suntan in central Sydney. Might even get a pickup for the evening...*wink.
STEVENSTAR | Feb 01, 2013, 06:28 PM EST
GOD HELP THEM IF THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INTO AMERICA ... ITS VIRTULLY IMPOSSIBLE !! ' OH YES THE FRIENDLY AMERICANS :) ALSO DO MOST AMERICANS KNOW EVEN THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE IRISH .. YOU CANT COME AND LIVE IN IRELAND OR STAY BEYONG YOUR 90 DAY HOLIDAY VISA ..HOW IRISH DOES THAT MAKE YOU ? NOT MUCH :)
STEVENSTAR | Feb 01, 2013, 06:28 PM EST
GOD HELP THEM IF THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INTO AMERICA ... ITS VIRTULLY IMPOSSIBLE !! ' OH YES THE FRIENDLY AMERICANS :) ALSO DO MOST AMERICANS KNOW EVEN THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE IRISH .. YOU CANT COME AND LIVE IN IRELAND OR STAY BEYONG YOUR 90 DAY HOLIDAY VISA ..HOW IRISH DOES THAT MAKE YOU ? NOT MUCH :)
STEVENSTAR | Feb 01, 2013, 06:28 PM EST
GOD HELP THEM IF THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INTO AMERICA ... ITS VIRTULLY IMPOSSIBLE !! ' OH YES THE FRIENDLY AMERICANS :) ALSO DO MOST AMERICANS KNOW EVEN THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE IRISH .. YOU CANT COME AND LIVE IN IRELAND OR STAY BEYONG YOUR 90 DAY HOLIDAY VISA ..HOW IRISH DOES THAT MAKE YOU ? NOT MUCH :)
STEVENSTAR | Feb 01, 2013, 06:28 PM EST
GOD HELP THEM IF THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INTO AMERICA ... ITS VIRTULLY IMPOSSIBLE !! ' OH YES THE FRIENDLY AMERICANS :) ALSO DO MOST AMERICANS KNOW EVEN THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE IRISH .. YOU CANT COME AND LIVE IN IRELAND OR STAY BEYONG YOUR 90 DAY HOLIDAY VISA ..HOW IRISH DOES THAT MAKE YOU ? NOT MUCH :)
STEVENSTAR | Feb 01, 2013, 06:27 PM EST
GOD HELP THEM IF THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INTO AMERICA ... ITS VIRTULLY IMPOSSIBLE !! ' OH YES THE FRIENDLY AMERICANS :) ALSO DO MOST AMERICANS KNOW EVEN THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE IRISH .. YOU CANT COME AND LIVE IN IRELAND OR STAY BEYONG YOUR 90 DAY HOLIDAY VISA ..HOW IRISH DOES THAT MAKE YOU ? :)
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:59 PM EST
My apologies for multiple posts. Not my fault, the IC server is a real Dollar Store special. And, as we know, we posters can't even delete in cases like this.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
WoundedKnee | Feb 01, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
Freeman: "I should think the EU is picking up the tab". Yes, you should think, but you also should do a little research. If you did you would know that the only ones who pick up the tab for the vast ranges of public services and subsidies that foreign migrants receive in Ireland are the Irish tax-payer. Either b y paying taxes or by borrowing abroad, which will have to be repaid. OK, there are some foreign migrants who pay taxes, but the majority of foreign migrants are takers not givers as regards public spending, since they are on minimum wage and bring large families, even grandparents. You really should study what's going on in Ireland, Freeman, you sound very uninformed.
ancavker | Feb 01, 2013, 11:28 AM EST
Ron: Oz land's economy is not looking to good these days. The Irish that are considering moving there, may wnat to reconsider.
Schlomo | Feb 01, 2013, 08:54 AM EST
You bet the country is going down. And this time for good thanks to those who think the government owes them a living and the few smart people who recognize the truth and are moving on to better loves in better and more honest countries. Pretty soon the Social welfare roles will stretch across a deserted land.
Will Hamilton | Feb 01, 2013, 07:17 AM EST
Independent Ireland is a mis-managed kip that started to slide downhill in 1922. Anyone who can get out heads to the airport or the ferry. If you talk to any teenager these days, most of them plan on the basis that when they pass their final exams they will be leaving the country. The place is such a political farce the only people who want to live here are freeloaders like Bishops, TD's and social welfare cheats.
Ron | Feb 01, 2013, 04:36 AM EST
Well, I hope that many of that 87,000 are coming down under to Australia. We need as many Europeans that we can get here to offset the flow of illegal migrants from God knows where. They have no IDs, and no idea what they're looking for except handouts from the social security system. Bring down the Paddies! They had a large part in creating this country in the first place.
Scouse Tony | Feb 01, 2013, 02:07 AM EST
STEVENSTAR The area I work in is heavily populated by EU migrants mostly Poles working in construction there have been more issues with them lowering the wage rate by working for minimum wage. I have no issue with economic migrants but there have to be limits but never at the cost of the traditional "in you go" for the Irish as significant sections of Liverpool Social Services, Social Care and NHS nursing staff are recruited from the Irish students who study here and decide to stay. I've never been a big EU fan and would not be opposed to both the UK and Ireland picking up our ball and telling them to jog on.
falconflash | Jan 31, 2013, 09:43 PM EST
Searlit: be careful, some would call that an anti-semitic statement. Stevenstar: your Poles are double dippin, collecting in Poland and Ireland. It hurts Irish Americans to see you making the same mistakes we made-- Articles that slander the Church are welcome here but when I make a right wing red neck statement--- it gets taken off.
falconflash | Jan 31, 2013, 09:43 PM EST
Searlit: be careful, some would call that an anti-semitic statement. Stevenstar: your Poles are double dippin, collecting in Poland and Ireland. It hurts Irish Americans to see you making the same mistakes we made-- Articles that slander the Church are welcome here but when I make a right wing red neck statement--- it gets taken off.
falconflash | Jan 31, 2013, 09:43 PM EST
Searlit: be careful, some would call that an anti-semitic statement. Stevenstar: your Poles are double dippin, collecting in Poland and Ireland. It hurts Irish Americans to see you making the same mistakes we made-- Articles that slander the Church are welcome here but when I make a right wing red neck statement--- it gets taken off.
falconflash | Jan 31, 2013, 09:42 PM EST
Searlit: be careful, some would call that an anti-semitic statement. Stevenstar: your Poles are double dippin, collecting in Poland and Ireland. It hurts Irish Americans to see you making the same mistakes we made--
falconflash | Jan 31, 2013, 09:40 PM EST
Searlit: be careful, some would call that an anti-semitic statement. Stevenstar: your Poles are double dippin, collecting in Poland and Ireland.
Freeman | Jan 31, 2013, 08:28 PM EST
With respect Steven star ,can I ask where in Ireland are you from.
anglo-norman | Jan 31, 2013, 08:11 PM EST
Turn off the capslock Steven
KidShelleen | Jan 31, 2013, 07:28 PM EST
It a pleasure to help...good to see family...we are tight.. ...but so many others broke and many mates have not a penny to their name and I find myself funding too many nights on the tiles..getting to the point where I am only going to socialise in future with those who can afford to go out... gets a bit much...Irish good at the poor mouth..they forget we have our own troubles here and when they were earning mega bucks I never noticed them to be particulary generous...then it was can you buy me a pint I have just bought a house for 500 K.....now its I can't pay my mortgage can you buy me a pint.....?
STEVENSTAR | Jan 31, 2013, 06:53 PM EST
GIVE IT ANOTHER 10 YEARS AND THE GERMANS AND THE EU WILL DESTORY MY COUNTRY.. WE NOW HAVE 1 IN 4 POLISH IN IRELAND LIVING ON THE DOLE.. THE DOLE IN IRELAND IS 188EURO A WEEK FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND 150 A MONTH BACK IN POLAND SO ITS EASY TO SEE WHY THEY LIKE TO COME HERE ... WE'LL SOON HAVE THE ROMANIANS AND BULGARIANS COMING OVER END OF THIS YEAR... THE UK IS NOW TALKING OF LEAVING THE EU AND IF THE UK LEAVE THE EU .. WE WILL BE THE ONLY ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE EU... AND THIS IS WHERE THEY WILL ALL COME.. IT WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR IRELAND IF THE UK LEAVE THE EURO AND EU...THEY ARE OUR BIGGGEST TRADING PARTNER AND THE ONLY OTHER ENGLISH SPEAKING EUROPEAN COUNTRY WHOM WE ARE MOST CULTURALLY LIKE.. ITS MY OPINION WE NEED TO LEAVE THE EURO AND LINK UP WITH THE UK ... ITS THE ONLY WAY ... AND ESPECIALLY SO WHEN MOST IRISH IMMIGRATE WE GOTO LONDON OR ENGLAND WHERE WE ARE NOT INTERROGATED LIKE CRIMINALS LIKE WHEN WE GOTO AMERICAN OR AUSTRALIA WITH THEIR TOUGH VISA RESTRICTIONS ON US ...!!!
anglo-norman | Jan 31, 2013, 06:49 PM EST
Ireland is heading for Third-World status again it seems
STEVENSTAR | Jan 31, 2013, 06:47 PM EST
ANYONE BEEN TO CITIES IN AMERICA LIKE DETROIT LATELY?? MY GOD GO THERE AND YOU'LL SEE REAL POVERTY AND WHAT A REAL RECESSIN IS ... WHY CANT WE HAVE SOME STORIES ABOUT DETROIT ON HERE FOR ALL OUR AMERICAN READERS ??????? :-)
awoken32 | Jan 31, 2013, 04:34 PM EST
Ireland needs to leave the EU dictatorship an start a mass deportation program an a review of citizenships that were handed out,we also need to get the tritors out of the dail
Freeman | Jan 31, 2013, 03:48 PM EST
I believe Ireland is member of the EU, wounded knee and the Irish people are EU citizens too.I should think the EU is picking up the tab for the same services provided to people of Ireland as well.
lyoness555 | Jan 31, 2013, 03:46 PM EST
WHAT?! you site credible news agencies and then you toss Al Jezeera into that list?? WTF?? Are you insane al jezeera?? ha ha ha ha yeah thats real credible
Smyrnian | Jan 31, 2013, 03:13 PM EST
FastEddy - you are right. Ship them out at the top of the strata and being them in at the bottom and tax the hell out of everyone who is actually working to pay for the ever growing socialist entitlements for those who take from the government. Not a very sustainable plan!
WoundedKnee | Jan 31, 2013, 02:27 PM EST
If the Dublin government were any good, which of course it is not, they would tell the EU that the Irish can no longer afford to spend billions of (borrowed) money every year to pay welfare, free schools, health care, extra prison places, translation services, child benefit etc. etc. for the huge number of EU citizens from Eastern Europe who have chosen to arrive as settlers in Ireland. These people are EU citizens--let the EU pay for them!
WoundedKnee | Jan 31, 2013, 02:24 PM EST
If the Dublin government were any good, which of course it is not, they would tell the EU that the Irish can no longer afford to spend billions of (borrowed) money every year to pay welfare, free schools, health care, extra prison places, translation services, child benefit etc. etc. for the huge number of EU citizens from Eastern Europe who have chosen to arrive as settlers in Ireland. These people are EU citizens--let the EU pay for them!
seamus60 | Jan 31, 2013, 01:33 PM EST
Hats off to the residents of Ballyhea, if only even those worst hit by the austerity would do the same in thier area`s.
Searlit | Jan 31, 2013, 01:26 PM EST
Thomas Jefferson wrote that he feared a centralized bank more than a standing army.
FastEddy | Jan 31, 2013, 11:30 AM EST
The Irish economy will continue to reap the rewards of socialist "progressive" taxation until all are unemployed or working for g'ment. ... A deep and broad across the board tax cut will fix this ... unless Irish g'ment continues to stand in the way of progress.
handsome68 | Jan 31, 2013, 11:01 AM EST
I want to see Ireland thrive economically and in every other way. In fact, I feel the same for the USA, to which my Leitrim-born parents emigrated back in the late 1930s. There are many intractable factors, including ignorance and poverty, certainly in the USA, about which I know a bit. I maintain that learning to pray, not in a selfish but in a selfless manner might start the healing ball rolling. Throwing babies out with bathwater, is no answer.
stephendoyle | Jan 31, 2013, 09:02 AM EST
Irelands loss is the worlds gain. Just think of how much worse a world we would live in without the Irish spread around. I travel quite a bit and it's always nice to see fellow Irish men and women where ever I end up.
merefalow | Jan 31, 2013, 08:56 AM EST
i have always said,(why pay these eliist ripping off s.o.b tell them to go screw themselves with thier ripping off intrest rates,there should be no private banking ,especially those that gamble with taxpayers money.Start a national bank run by the country for the country,the working man will never be free of these bloodsucking leeches until that happens.
CharlieM | Jan 31, 2013, 08:43 AM EST
Hey, fellows, you can't 'sink' if you're already under water, and that is exactly where Ireland is both morally and financially. (Some like me think the two naufrages are related, but I am sure that is not common coin at your HQ, steeped as it is in liberal secularism.)