If immigration is your priority issue: how should you vote?

[kerrynorth]

I think this is a reasonable question to ask because if immigration issues are your biggest issue for the forthcoming election there is presently no party espousing your viewpoint. The political pundits keep saying that it is an issue on the doorsteps saying that urban TD's in particular say it is one of the main issues mentioned. However, no party is espousing an immigration control agenda, and with the exception of Dublin North where there is an ICP candidate how are we to vote?

Enda Kenny's call for a 'debate' is looking less like what it says on the tin but rather more a like an attempt to molly coddle and soft soothe us into mass immigration. The only person to my mind with credibility on this issue is Pat Rabbitte with his comments last year on Eastern European immigration when there was no political advantage at that time in making those statements. To my mind I feel those comments reflected Pat's personal view and that he was very genuine and sincere in expressing them at that time unlike I am sure the Johnny come latelys we will hear between now and election day. I do believe that Pat Rabbitte was very genuine and sincere in the views he expressed which would coincide with my own.

However, there is a but! My main reservation is whether he can carry the rest of the Labour Party with him on immigration, namely as I mentioned on another thread the 'bleeding heart' (or 'champagne socialist' if you prefer) wing of the party. You know, that element of the Labour Party that waits to read what Madam says in an Irish Times editorial on any issue before adopting its own position and believes that criminals are just misunderstood victims of societys ills etc etc. As I remember it the 'bleeding hearts' in the Labour Party came out at that time against Pat's statements and he does seem to have backed off them!

So, I am asking those people on this site who have consistently commented on immigration control just how should we vote. And if we could develop a concensus maybe we could vote en bloc?

Over to you!

[cain1798]

I think this is a reasonable question to ask because if immigration issues are your biggest issue for the forthcoming election there is presently no party espousing your viewpoint.

What viewpoint? Immigration is a priority issue for you, and you're anti-immigration. But what about those people for whom immigration is a priority issue, but who are not anti-immigration. Those people who want to see a progressive, human rights based approach to immigration. People like my friend who is engaged to a chap from Chile who has been having huge difficulties with visas and work permits.

You're automatically assuming that every person for whom immigration is a big issue is anti-immigration. That's not the case.

[The Trinity Politick]

Enda Kenny's call for a 'debate' is looking less like what it says on the tin but rather more a like an attempt to molly coddle and soft soothe us into mass immigration.

Fine Gael would set up a dedicated Ministry for Immigrant/Immigration Affairs in government to solely deal with the issues regarding immigration, permits, exploitation, illegals etc etc. You need dedicated work on this.

Seems like an obvious moe to make in this current age. Its not unheard of to create new ministries. Would be a bit awkward today with that "Ministry for Posts and Telegraphs"

[FutureTaoiseach]

Then you should vote PD because of McDowell's citizenship-referendum and speeding up of deportations - even if we have a long way to go to fully address loopholes and remove those here illegally from the country. Labour and the Greens and SF all opposed that referendum remember.

[Catalpa]

I'm voting for Leo Varadkar (FG) in Dublin West because he has made it an election issue and I like most of what he is saying - namely the Management of Immigration and 'Integration not Multi-Culturalism'.

[factual]

Immigration is one of my issues and I support Sinn Féin's approach that opposes restrictions on intra-EU migration.

[wizzard]

I think this is a reasonable question to ask because if immigration issues are your biggest issue for the forthcoming election there is presently no party espousing your viewpoint. The political pundits keep saying that it is an issue on the doorsteps saying that urban TD's in particular say it is one of the main issues mentioned. However, no party is espousing an immigration control agenda, and with the exception of Dublin North where there is an ICP candidate how are we to vote?

Enda Kenny's call for a 'debate' is looking less like what it says on the tin but rather more a like an attempt to molly coddle and soft soothe us into mass immigration. The only person to my mind with credibility on this issue is Pat Rabbitte with his comments last year on Eastern European immigration when there was no political advantage at that time in making those statements. To my mind I feel those comments reflected Pat's personal view and that he was very genuine and sincere in expressing them at that time unlike I am sure the Johnny come latelys we will hear between now and election day. I do believe that Pat Rabbitte was very genuine and sincere in the views he expressed which would coincide with my own.

However, there is a but! My main reservation is whether he can carry the rest of the Labour Party with him on immigration, namely as I mentioned on another thread the 'bleeding heart' (or 'champagne socialist' if you prefer) wing of the party. You know, that element of the Labour Party that waits to read what Madam says in an Irish Times editorial on any issue before adopting its own position and believes that criminals are just misunderstood victims of societys ills etc etc. As I remember it the 'bleeding hearts' in the Labour Party came out at that time against Pat's statements and he does seem to have backed off them!

So, I am asking those people on this site who have consistently commented on immigration control just how should we vote. And if we could develop a concensus maybe we could vote en bloc?

Over to you!

if FG go in with a Labour and even a Green coalition the 'opposition' will be as bad as the current mob.
The reality is that you just can't make immigration control your priority without spoiling.

[Twin Towers]

In my constituency i'll be dropping a neatly folded spoilt vote in the ballot box. If everyone concerned at over immigration did the same that would be telling. Meanwhile hoping for a better future

Btw good thread idea KN!

[White Horse]

'Integration not Multi-Culturalism'.

That is the key. Multi-culturalism is a failed experiament. The people who will suffer must from an open door policy are the working classes. At least Fine Gael and Labour and making a stand on this issue.

[liberal logic]

I think we need to promote greater integration, allowing all the people who come here to live good lives enjoying prosperity, liberty and sexlove.