Half of the Irish public now want immigration checkpoints on the border with Northern Ireland to reduce the number of arrivals of asylum seekers from Britain, a new poll has shown, as anti-immigration protests broke out across Dublin.
Fifty per cent of respondents told the Sunday Independent and Ireland Thinks they would support checkpoint measures to limit the number of asylum seekers arriving from Britain, and 82 per cent back deportations back to the UK.
As tent communities continue to grow in Dublin, up to 40 per cent of respondents added they would support Ireland having a policy similar to Britain’s Rwanda plan, while 42 per cent opposed the measures.
The Irish public has reacted strongly to rising migration levels, with Dublin hosting a major protest against the housing of asylum seekers today.
Footage from the scene shows large crowds of people wrapped in the Irish flag and holding a variety of signs and banners saying “Irish Lives Matter” and “We Want Our Country Back” as they gathered at the Garden of Remembrance downtown North of the city. this afternoon before marching down O’Connell Street and arriving at the Customs House where speeches were made.
Crowds attended a protest against the government’s immigration policy in Dublin, Ireland today.
An anti-immigration march took place in Dublin today with some signs saying “we want our country back.”
Protesters were seen shouting as they voiced their demands for migrant checkpoints on the Northern Ireland border.
Protesters were seen waving colorful smoke flares while wearing T-shirts that read: “House the Irish first.”
Images and photographs of the mass demonstration show swathes of angry locals marching down the street chanting “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole”, “out, out, out” and “our streets”.
Other signs seen among the crowd were “Ireland Belongs to the Irish,” “Irish Civil Rights,” “Stop the WHO Pandemic Treaty,” “Mass Deportations,” and “Economic Immigrants Are Not Refugees,” among others.
Local groups from Coolock and Newtownmountkennedy were also represented, where protests have recently been organized against the building used to house applicants for international protection.
Shocking photos from Monday’s protest showed some protesters wearing hoodies and balaclavas as they passed through the GPO, where around 200 people staged a counter-protest “united against racism”.
Counter-protest attendees waved Palestinian flags that read: “No to far-right lies and racism.”
Others said, “Homes for the people, homes for all,” “War creates refugees,” and “All refugees welcome.”
Between them and those marching from the Garden of Remembrance was a line of gardai.
Long before the protest there was a strong Garda presence, including members of the Public Order Unit.
Protesters with flags took part in an anti-immigration protest in central Dublin today.
A protester carries a sign reading “Irish Lives Matter” during a demonstration in central Dublin today.
Tents for asylum seekers seen on the bank of the Grand Canal at Warrington Place in Dublin
According to the Irish timesIt took about 45 minutes for the entire crowd to pass through O’Connell Street, causing major traffic disruptions.
Despite growing concerns about migration in Ireland, both Sinn Féin and the Irish government have said they would impose checkpoints on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as a Rwanda-style deportation plan. , are out of the question.
Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntree recently claimed that 80 per cent of this year’s estimated 7,000 asylum seekers had come from the UK via Northern Ireland, prompting the government to declare that the UK would not It was safe for migrants due to the Rwanda plan and sparked a diplomatic row.
Members of the Irish cabinet told The Mail on Sunday that fierce divisions had since emerged within the Irish government, with critics criticizing new Taoiseach Simon Harris for being outmaneuvered by Rishi Sunak on the issue.
Following the dispute with the Conservative Party over migration to Ireland, concern about immigration has soared by 15 per cent, according to the survey.
And 72 per cent said they believed McEntree’s controversial claim about the number of migrants coming to Ireland from Northern Ireland.
Rishi Sunak has refused to take in refugees from Ireland unless France agrees to take in refugees who crossed the English Channel to reach the UK in the first place.
However, he warned Ireland against sending police to patrol the border for illegal immigrants, amid concerns that a “hard border” would emerge between the north and south.
A large crowd gathers for a protest against mass immigration, marching from Dublin’s Gardens of Remembrance through the city centre, on May 6, 2024.
The survey revealed that 50 percent of Irish people want border checkpoints to deter migrants.
A tent village in Dublin on April 30, 2024, with migrants abandoned to sleep on footpaths and roads.
Up to 40 percent of respondents added that they would support Ireland having a policy similar to Britain’s Rwanda plan.
Critics are slamming new Taoiseach Simon Harris (pictured) for being outmaneuvered by Rishi Sunak on the issue of migration.
The Prime Minister said last week that Dublin must deliver on its promise after the Republic pledged to send 100 Gardai officers to police the border amid concerns over rising numbers of migrants.
Even before the massive surge of migrants, Ireland’s Department of Integration and the International Protection Office were struggling to deal with at least 30,000 asylum seekers and 100,000 Ukrainian refugees amid a devastating housing supply crisis.
Frustrated Irish citizens are suspected of burning dozens of abandoned buildings designated as future asylum centers as early as 2018 and in April, when a site was set up in County Wicklow that saw protests against the government over its decision to use it for refugees. perch.
And this afternoon protesters gathered in Dublin for a protest over immigration.
Crowds gathered in the Garden of Remembrance before continuing down O’Connell Street amid a gardai presence.
Many of the protesters carried Irish flags and banners with messages such as “Irish lives matter” and “Coolock says no,” while chants including “get them out” were heard.
A counter-protest took place outside the GPO on O’Connell Street, where people held banners reading: “United against racism”. Refugees are welcome.’