Sensible debate on the issue of immigration has long since drowned under a storm of political correctness.

Defrauding the social welfare is not a basic EU policy. The mayor stressed that he was not referring to those who had paid their dues.

As Trampas said it took many many posts to clarify what the guy actually said . In future Mayor Kiely should shut up .Not for political reasons but for ,'not being able to make proper sentences' reasons .
im outta this thread . It was constructive and educational tho . Good luck .

True that.

It's probably for their own protection given Stab City's reputation.

Grrr. Feck off .The only reputation 'stab city' has is in the imaginations of lazy journalists.

He said he wants UNEMPLOYED e nationals to be deported. There is nothing wrong with his plan.

Except for he is in FG , a party which supports all EU law . Its like when Bertie said he was a 'socialist ' . He wasnt! He was playing to the audience. Mayor Kiely cannot overrule his friend Barroso . Mayor Kiely is a chancer .

Turns out, purely from a public finances point of view, workers from Eastern Europe have been good for the Exchequer.
A Modest Proposal For Preventing the Foreign People in Ireland from Being a Burden to the Country | Ronan Lyons

Some quotes:
1. The number of new-EU workers signing on is tiny compared with the total numbers signing on. An average of 43,000 people from the new EU member states signed on during the third quarter of the year, compared to 350,000+ Irish signing on. Also, the problem looks to have turned a corner with the numbers signing-on falling every month since April.
2. For every single unemployed Eastern European in Ireland, there are four times as many still working...The total number of new-EU, employed and unemployed, has fallen steadily every quarter since late 2007, and by 30,000 in total.
3. These people are currently "costing" the Exchequer about €32m a month in unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, they're bringing in, through PRSI and income tax, somewhere in the region €75m a month... Summing up over the past 12 months, their contribution to the Exchequer has been about €1bn, while the Government has had to pay out about €350m.

Graph on that link too about the scale of the issue.
Favourite bit has to be the Mayor Quimby quote at the start though.

From the Limerick Leader website

Mayor Kiely clarifies position - Limerick Leader

I was deeply shocked and angry to hear the comments with which Mayor Kiely requested that EU nationals should be deported if they have been unemployed for over 3 months.

Originally from Scotland, I have been living here for almost the last 10 years, I have worked consistently throughout this time until May of this year when I was made redundant. During the last 10 years, I have more than paid my fair share in taxes in this country.

During this time, I have got married and have one beautiful Irish daughter whom I am very proud and I call this my home.

I take great offence when someone of his position (who should know better) makes comments like this. Who does he think he is? Every EU citizen has a right to work in any EU country irrespective of where they come from.

Like many other people, I feel Mr. Kiely should resign immediately from his position, these kind of comments are disgraceful and will do nothing to serve in the best interest of Limerick city. I'd much rather prefer if he dealt with the more pertinent immediate issues of the city such as serious crime, failing businesses, graffiti, promoting a beleagured city as that is what we have employed him to do.

Despite his apology, I feel that if he is capable of making these remarks, I think he should hang up his gown and cap and either make his way to Britain and join up with Nick Griffin's BNP party or head to Tennessee and hook up with the Ku Klux Klan.

Yours sincerely

Chris Purdie

__________________
Never have so many been ripped off by so few. Ireland 2010. The Golden Circle rides on.

If you were listening to Kerry Today this morning and the lunchtime programme a couple of days ago you will have heard that the 'blueshirts' are the one's in tune with public opinion. Note the absence of any moves against him by the party hierarchy - they know where public opinion lays on this matter and are not going to show themselves to be hopelessly out of step with it by expelling him.