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Shock survey shows 20 percent of Irish looking to emigrate

By
JANE WALSHE
,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Sunday, February 7, 2010, 8:20 AM
Updated Monday, March 8, 2010, 4:33 PM
Read more: Europe, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Oceania, Sheriffs’ Association


Canada and Australia are favored destinations for Irish emigrants.
Canada and Australia are favored destinations for Irish emigrants.

Twenty two percent of people in Ireland now see emigration as a possibility for them and their loved ones because of the ongoing economic crisis. The shock figure is released in a new Sunday Independent newspaper poll.

Opposition parties have long maintained that unemployment is being held lower than the 500,000 mark because of forced emigration. Canada and Australia have become the destinations of choice for emigrants.

Meanwhile the level of personal debt has reached record levels according to the survey, with 27 percent saying they feel ashamed because they cannot pay a bill while 20 percent are worried that they may lose their homes.

There are now 16 full-time sheriff's bailiffs employed to seize goods and force evictions, the highest number ever. However, the newspaper reports that even in posh homes they visit there is usually very little left to take.

Now the Sheriffs’ Association has asked the government to come up with new laws that they say are needed to deal with the current crisis.

"A lot of the rules we are working on date back to 1926. We asked for powers to deal with the modern-day situation. The main thing we wanted was to get the information on what is owned, such as properties and bank accounts," said a spokesman.

Mainly they want to be able to distinguish between those who can afford to pay back but won't and those who are unable to.

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Shock survey shows 20 percent of Irish looking to emigrate | Irish News | IrishCentral


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Most recent comments - See all comments

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Posted by RthrBHistCorr on Feb 09, 2010, 05:14 PM EST
Watchman: Two points (A) I agree with your analysis, as an American who spent every summer vacation/holiday with my Grandparents in Ireland, I was shocked during the heyday of the Celtic Tiger of the attitude of the younger generation and their attitude. I remember telling a young cousin who was selling a farm to drive around in a BMW that I hope the time never came that he had to eat his BMW. I take no satisfaction in being right but both the farm and the BMW are gone. The way that overnight being "Irish" went out the window so to become "Eurotrash" was amazing. 2) As far as the Irish in America, they are always welcomed. History has shown that Ireland's loss as always been America's gain.
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Posted by mylesie on Feb 09, 2010, 04:15 PM EST
So what - that's par for the course for most Irish people, compare that to the 41 per cent in Britain who want to depart!
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Posted by nnugent1951 on Feb 09, 2010, 01:34 PM EST
does the government ever try to bring in companies from other countries? Give these companies tax credits what ever to get companies to come to Ireland? So people can have jobs to take care themselves and there families.
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Posted by Watchman on Feb 08, 2010, 09:15 PM EST
To those that offered support: thanks!
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Posted by JBRAFTREE on Feb 08, 2010, 06:59 PM EST
Watchman, it's a damned shame more people couldn't read your inciteful comment on all the economic messes we all are facing, !!!!!
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Posted by Christisall on Feb 08, 2010, 02:28 PM EST
We Americans always welcome the Irish!


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