It’s time to admit that there are a number of issues in Ireland’s immigration system. The government’s frequent limited communication on issues has created room for the far right to grow. It has pushed people towards the far right as no mainstream alternative voice has existed. Communities, particularly in rural and lower socioeconomic areas have felt a drain on resources, disconnected from decision makers, and ignored by a government which is meant to be supporting them. As a result, anger which should be pointed at the government has been seized upon by the far right, including groups such as The National Party and the Irish Freedom Party. This anger is directly, often violently, directed towards immigrants and refugees – many of whom have legitimate claims to be in Ireland. In recent months it would appear that the government has indeed recognised this failing, and has made some efforts to reform the system, but has the time for government action passed? Is it simply too late to claw back those who have turned to far right agitators in hopes of having their struggles and concerns recognised?
A discussion regarding local safety concerns has once again arisen in South West Dublin, after news of the sexual assault of a young girl in the area came to light. The sexual attack of a 10-year-old girl in Dublin last October, near the Citywest International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre recently led to violent unrest in the area. Protests near the centre resulted in multiple Gardaí being injured with over 30 arrests being made. The behaviour was spurred on by far right online commentators including Philip Dwyer and Keith Woods. While this behaviour cannot be excused, it cannot be viewed as an isolated event, as many residents would argue that it is reflective of broader frustrations which have been ongoing for years. These tensions emerge as an inevitable result of a government which has consistently ignored a section of its citizens, and continued to operate a faulty deportation system. The 26-year-old foreign man accused of attacking the young girl, unnamed for legal reasons, was allegedly due to be deported in May of this year, however he was not, and has remained in Ireland since. In addition, the man’s application for international protection had failed in 2024.
In situations like that of Citywest, the man involved categorically should not have been in Ireland. The young girl who was attacked was a victim not only of the man himself, but also of the state’s negligence to protect its citizens. The consequences of such administrative failings are not abstract. In this case, a child has been traumatised for life, due to a deportation system which has long been unfit for purpose. Those living in Saggart have a right to be concerned about the government’s continued investment in the Citywest Hotel complex. The hotel, which was once a local hub of employment, was recently purchased by the state for €148 million with the intention of permanently turning it into an international protection accommodation centre. This move clearly went against the wishes of the local community, with the “Stop Citywest Hotel” group engaging in numerous peaceful protests and demonstrations in the months leading up to the purchase. It was this group who initially organised a support rally outside of the hotel in the aftermath of the assault. This demonstration was intended to show solidarity with the victim, and highlight safety concerns. This group has never shown any hatred towards the people living in the centre, just anger towards the government. However, what had been intended to be peaceful was quickly hijacked by members of far right groups, who used social media to spread their message. In this case, it is crucial to note that peaceful protests had been ongoing for months preceding the attack without any government acknowledgement or action being taken.
A fair, compassionate, open conversation around immigration in Ireland is long overdue. The government continuing to fail to address the legitimate concerns held by a significant proportion of the population will only lead to the far right gaining further ground in the political landscape. The IPAS system is outdated and puts unnecessary pressure on towns, villages and communities which are often already economically deprived. However, the actions recently taken by the government to solve the flaws in the country’s immigration system of course must be recognised. As recently as late November, Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, has announced a series of plans aimed at tackling the high levels of asylum seekers wishing to enter the country. Among these measures is a longer time requirement to apply for citizenship and a new rule which stipulates that asylum seekers who have jobs must contribute towards the cost of their state-provided accommodation. At the G20 conference in Johannesburg, Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the measures as continuing Ireland’s “humanitarian approach” towards asylum seekers. In addition, the number of deportation orders has significantly risen in recent years. In 2024, 2403 deportation orders were issued by the Department of Justice, in comparison to only 528 orders in 2022, clearly a large increase.
However, despite the large number of deportation orders issued in 2024, very few people actually ended up being deported, only 134 actually left the country out of the 2403 orders. This disparity between orders issued and tangible outcomes further contributes towards public resentment. Of course, there will always be a place in Ireland for those legitimately seeking asylum. It is our international and humanitarian duty to protect those in times of need and crises. However, there simply seems to be too many flaws in the current system. Placing centres in areas such as Coolock, East Wall and other working class communities without consultation with locals, those living in the area can feel excluded from decision making. This frustration can lead to ordinary people being open to manipulation by the far right and misplacing their anger, often seeing asylum seekers and refugees as targets rather than the government.
Although the government has started to attempt system reform, with Micheál Martin recently making a commitment that the government would to stop placing IPAS properties at certain locations, including in already underprivileged areas, as well as smaller towns or villages which may only have one hotel or accommodation property. A number of chartered deportation flights have also taken place recently, with 6 flights having been carried out in the last year, seeing a total of 205 people being forcibly removed from the country. In a country which already has a housing crisis and cost-of-living pressures, a flawed immigration system is simply untenable. Although the government is making some efforts now, it’s possible that the far right, often with racist undertones, has already infiltrated many Irish communities, and combating this is another issue in itself.
