Leo Varadkar's repatriation proposals welcome

[FutureTaoiseach]

The Irish people owe a debt of gratitude to Leo Varadkar (FG) TD for suggesting at an Oireachtas Committee (reported on Six One tonight) that the state should consider funding the voluntary return of foreign-workers to their home countries. While the proposal was condemned by Thomas Byrne (FF) TD, who called it a "new low" and called for it to be withdrawn, it marks the beginning of what I hope will be a trend which, together with recent proposals on reform of the public-sector will make FG a viable alternative to a FF-led govt. Being more in touch with public-opinion on issues like this is an important part of being taken seriously as a viable alternative-govt party. Varadkar should stand his ground, and FG should back up his proposal. It is not a racist proposal, but rather one that recognises that charity begins at home, and that a recession is not the right time to be exacerbating the difficulties Irish people face in finding work. For those of us - myself included - who oppose racism, it is recognised that the current free-for-all of unregulated mass-immigration are in fact risking strengthening it. Let us oppose racism through tighter controls, so as to avoid the circumstances such as job displacement which fuel it.

I have never voted FG in a GE before, but if recent signs are an indication of the overall policy-direction of the party, then I and many like me may have cause to reconsider.

[akanji]

The Irish people owe a debt of gratitude to Leo Varadkar (FG) TD for suggesting at an Oireachtas Committee (reported on Six One tonight) that the state should consider funding the voluntary return of foreign-workers to their home countries. While the proposal was condemned by Thomas Byrne (FF) TD, who called it a "new low" and called for it to be withdrawn, it marks the beginning of what I hope will be a trend which, together with recent proposals on reform of the public-sector will make FG a viable alternative to a FF-led govt. Being more in touch with public-opinion on issues like this is an important part of being taken seriously as a viable alternative-govt party. Varadkar should stand his ground, and FG should back up his proposal. It is not a racist proposal, but rather one that recognises that charity begins at home, and that a recession is not the right time to be exacerbating the difficulties Irish people face in finding work. I have never voted FG in a GE before, but if recent signs are an indication of the overall policy-direction of the party, then I and many like me may have cause to reconsider.

Well every country has a voluntary repatriation system and i believed it's in place right now and i see one of it in kent county in England and i think they should practice it in ireland aswell. l.o.l

[meriwether]

The Irish people owe a debt of gratitude to Leo Varadkar (FG) TD for suggesting at an Oireachtas Committee (reported on Six One tonight) that the state should consider funding the voluntary return of foreign-workers to their home countries. While the proposal was condemned by Thomas Byrne (FF) TD, who called it a "new low" and called for it to be withdrawn, it marks the beginning of what I hope will be a trend which, together with recent proposals on reform of the public-sector will make FG a viable alternative to a FF-led govt. Being more in touch with public-opinion on issues like this is an important part of being taken seriously as a viable alternative-govt party. Varadkar should stand his ground, and FG should back up his proposal. It is not a racist proposal, but rather one that recognises that charity begins at home, and that a recession is not the right time to be exacerbating the difficulties Irish people face in finding work. I have never voted FG in a GE before, but if recent signs are an indication of the overall policy-direction of the party, then I and many like me may have cause to reconsider.

No, dont, seriously.

I cringe at the thought of you doing to us here what you did to the PD's last time.

Just go away. We're all elites who give Jose Barrosso an arse lick at every opportunity. We're also west-brits.

[Lidl_Shopper]

Sadly, the champagne socialists in the Labour Party would never allow this to happen. Fine Gael are really handicapped by their alliance with the Labour Party.

[Keith-M]

Having failed to appeal the the Irish electorate for a quarter of a century, FG appear to have hit the panic button. First Brian Hayes and now Varadkar are appealling to the xenophocic element. A less charitable person might suggest that Leo is re-partriated to Croatia!

[Joe Ryan]

Sadly, the champagne socialists in the Labour Party would never allow this to happen. Fine Gael are really handicapped by their alliance with the Labour Party.

Most of the electorate would think it is the other way round

[akanji]

The Irish people owe a debt of gratitude to Leo Varadkar (FG) TD for suggesting at an Oireachtas Committee (reported on Six One tonight) that the state should consider funding the voluntary return of foreign-workers to their home countries. While the proposal was condemned by Thomas Byrne (FF) TD, who called it a "new low" and called for it to be withdrawn, it marks the beginning of what I hope will be a trend which, together with recent proposals on reform of the public-sector will make FG a viable alternative to a FF-led govt. Being more in touch with public-opinion on issues like this is an important part of being taken seriously as a viable alternative-govt party. Varadkar should stand his ground, and FG should back up his proposal. It is not a racist proposal, but rather one that recognises that charity begins at home, and that a recession is not the right time to be exacerbating the difficulties Irish people face in finding work. I have never voted FG in a GE before, but if recent signs are an indication of the overall policy-direction of the party, then I and many like me may have cause to reconsider.

No, dont, seriously.

I cringe at the thought of you doing to us here what you did to the PD's last time.

Just go away. We're all elites who give Jose Barrosso an arse lick at every opportunity. We're also west-brits.

To be honest who cares about your political party or you yourself ?

Cloud night mate.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Sadly, the champagne socialists in the Labour Party would never allow this to happen. Fine Gael are really handicapped by their alliance with the Labour Party.

Maybe but remember Pat Rabbitte's comments in 2006? Perhaps the growing realisation in the labour movement about the need for tighter controls to stop a race to the bottom will feed more into party-policy.

[Catalpa]

I'm nor so sure I would agree with such a generous proposal but it's refreshing to see a senior politician having the courage to at least raise the issue of over Immigration and what we can now do about it.

Hopefully he will not be the last to speak out.

[akanji]

Sadly, the champagne socialists in the Labour Party would never allow this to happen. Fine Gael are really handicapped by their alliance with the Labour Party.

Maybe but remember Pat Rabbitte's comments in 2006? Perhaps the growing realisation in the labour movement about the need for tighter controls to stop a race to the bottom will feed more into party-policy.

We have already told the labour party myself in writing that cloud night to them from rosbercon because i realize it was a political party of equality not distruction of another race for another race and we always wish them all the best.