Irish Government's acceptance of mass emigration appalling
By: Molly Muldoon | Published Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:46 AM | Updated Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:46 AM
Yesterday at lunchtime my Irish cell phone rang with an unknown number flashing on the screen.
I answered with a curious tone, as a familiar voice on the other end of the phone greeted me. It was one of my college friends, John, calling after he had finished a hard days work in Gurley, Australia.
John who is from Portarlington, previously worked as a sub editor for the Irish Independent, now finds himself working on a farm in New South Wales as part of his visa extension for his 2nd year down under. According to my Laois friend, the small village was full of Irish people, all in a similar bid to extend their time abroad.
According to the latest figures provided from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), more than 42,000 people have left Ireland since January 2009.
In last week’s pre-budget assessments, the government estimated 100,000 will leave Irish shores by 2014.
But instead of devising strategies to create employment for the countless numbers who are leaving, the Irish government has instead factored the high levels of emigration into their next years figures.
The Minister for Enterprise Batt O'Keeffe recently pointed out that live register figures had dropped for the second month in a row.
Which he noted was a signal that the economy was beginning to bounce back. However what he neglected to point out what the obvious effect mass emigration has had on the declining numbers signing on the live register.
A column in yesterday's Irish Independent by Declan O'Brien, pointed out that instead of being concerned about the high numbers of people leaving Ireland it seems the government are hopeful that instead it will enable them to balance the books.
The latest RED C survey published in the Irish Sun yesterday, revealed that almost 40 percent of people polled said they knew a close relative or friend who was forced to emigrate as a result of the downturn.
The return of the 1980's is upon us as highly skilled Irish citizens leave the country in droves. But instead of lamenting the loss of a generation it seems the government is breathing a sigh of relief. One less dole payment to process, one less person waiting on line in A& E, as thousands leave Irish shores behind.
11 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.joanneellen | Jan 10, 2011, 04:32 PM EST
The Irish Government is following the same strategies as the U.S. Government. But the blame should really rest on those who want a one world government, one world economy, one world religion...the list goes on. The Irish must stand up and take their country back, as must the Americans--we are being criminally destroyed by Marxist/Communists who want a One World Oder run by the United Nations. Read the book The Coming Collision by James Hirsen--you'll never be the same. Also, get back to church as it, too, continues to be under assault as it has been since the 1960's. Put your thinking caps on and go back in time to see when beautiful Ireland began to have problems. In the meantime, God Bless the Irish and all the wonderful people around the world!!
plasticpaddy | Nov 21, 2010, 04:42 PM EST
benefits aren't free maloney, you pay into the system when you work and receive when you need it. Fairly basic concept.
seamusmoore | Nov 16, 2010, 06:29 AM EST
Irish government is in a survival mode at this point; unfortunately, the raising of taxes will contract the economy further, thus resulting in more emigration in the future. The only way to stop this trend is to create jobs, but how? The Irish govt is being shut out of the bond market, foreign capital finds Ireland unattractive because of the high cost structure (rememember Dell leaving Limerick for Gdansk); the capital to start new businesses that create jobs has to come from the rich,whose taxes the Irish govt keeps raising. Rich people, unlike the poor and middle class, have options. Their money (capital)is mobile; the seeds for the next Ansbacher are being laid right now. Sadly, Ireland's situation seems intractable as the only option to raising taxes is to cut government spending more deeply, an improbable option as the cuts to-date have not been well received. Ireland ran surpluses in 2004-6, those days seem ancient.
Watereskhill | Nov 11, 2010, 10:38 PM EST
The Celtic Tiger did not have to die. Stupified greed indulgence and corruption saw to it.
Towngate | Nov 11, 2010, 05:16 PM EST
Irish people and their offspring, at home or abroad who were born since the Anglo Irish Treaty should be given an 'Outland Vote' and added to the 'Homeland Vote' to elect who they want to make or change Laws and run Ireland. THEN you'd hear a good few sphincters squeak in anticipation of punishment for their criminal and callous mis-rule of a free country and the abuse of it's wonderful population as outlined in the Article above and the comments below.!
maloney | Nov 11, 2010, 04:29 PM EST
Free benefits all around. Who do you think pays for all these freebees?
Searlit | Nov 11, 2010, 01:58 PM EST
I agree eirebegorra.
eirebegorra | Nov 11, 2010, 12:57 AM EST
they should give benefits to the three thousand that have returned,and are struggling to make ends meet, now that 42000 have left
Searlit | Nov 10, 2010, 08:41 PM EST
The government should , at least, extend the right for them to be eligible for benefits, if they decide to go back to Ireland, later.
irishfez | Nov 10, 2010, 11:50 AM EST
This is surprising, do you think the Govt depend on people to emigrate in order for them to keep the unemployed off their books? Terrible. the best and brightest are going.
GeorgeDillon | Nov 10, 2010, 07:37 AM EST
Everything becomes understandable, all the disparate facts about Ireland make sense, once you come to the very core of Ireland's reality: Fianna Fail is not a normal political party, it is a conspiracy of gangsters, thieves and parasites whose sole purpose is to enable a small number of Irish get rich, regardless of the consequences for the rest. Understand this, and you understand Mass Emigration, Mass Immigration, Mass Unemployment, Mass Poverty--it suddenly becomes crystal clear. To paraphrase St Paul, "We see as through a glass darkly, until we realize that Fianna Fail are vermin".