Is Immigration a issue in the by elections.

[irelandproud]

There seems to be great concern at the moment about mass immigration into this country. Have these concerns been voiced on the doorsteps of Dublin South or Dublin central?
I ask because last week on vincent browne he asked Ivana form labour if she had seen questions on immigration on the doorsteps and she said no, how can this be true, as it seems a lot of people have concerns at the moment, and i would think it would be one of the biggest issues in the by elections, is this issue yet again being covered over by the media and the candiates? Is there anybody out there that will stand in these by elections on a tough immigration policy?

[JCSkinner]

It will be in Dublin Central, the most-affected constituency in the country. A number of wards there are already non-national majority.

[irelandproud]

It will be in Dublin Central, the most-affected constituency in the country. A number of wards there are already non-national majority.

So would this not be a good time for someone to stand on a tough Immigration agenda in Dublin central, surely they would get a lot of support.

[JCSkinner]

I think not. It would be more likely to unite the non-national voters against such a candidate, I suspect.
In places like D1 and D15, immigration is a fait accompli. These districts are already forever changed by the influx of people from other countries, sometimes for the better, often not.
Such a candidacy as you propose would likely fare better in neighbouring areas which have seen how immigration has affected D1 or D15, and fear a replication in their own areas.
This is a furrow ploughed successfully by, among others, Leo Varadkar.

[DS-09]

Certainly in Blanchardstown- it will. Appartently theres more ethnic minorities there now, than native Irish. Same goes for parts of the city centre. We've taken in too many immigrants- its not racist to admit that

[DS-09]

a lot of it comes down to Brussels mind you, we don't really determine a lot of our border control or immigration issues from the dail anymore

[irelandproud]

Yes but non nationals cant vote in general elections or by elections.

[JCSkinner]

Certainly in Blanchardstown- it will. Appartently theres more ethnic minorities there now, than native Irish. Same goes for parts of the city centre. We've taken in too many immigrants- its not racist to admit that

There's no by-election in Blanchardstown.

[JCSkinner]

Yes but non nationals cant vote in general elections or by elections.

EU citizens can, I thought?

[Staropramen]

a lot of it comes down to Brussels mind you, we don't really determine a lot of our border control or immigration issues from the dail anymore

We could have easily put a work permit system in place for the accession countries,just like Germany and Austria. Cowen decided to open the labour market fully after the rejection of Nice 1, he wrote to his counterparts stating this.