Let’s get a grip and celebrate the turnaround in migration

Who do they think they are, these immigrants coming into this country and taking our jobs?
Okay, there was that bar recently where I queued 25 minutes to get a drink. “Can’t get staff,” said the stressed manager. And that restaurant where, such was the hunger, I considered eating the tablecloth before food arrived. “Can’t get staff,” said the hassled waitress.
Meanwhile 69,000, mainly young, Irish people emigrated in the 12 months to April this year, while 86,800 immigrants came here, leaving a “balance” of 17,800. Clearly not enough to staff our pubs and restaurants.
Okay, an additional 30,000 Irish returned in 2023, with 27,000 immigrants from other EU countries and 5,400 British. It’s fair to assume few of these ended up working in pubs or restaurants.
Yes, immigration needs to be managed better in Ireland, particularly where refugees and asylum seekers are concerned. Far more supports in healthcare and education are needed, but let’s get a grip.
Our health service, public or private, would collapse without immigrants – at every level – as would our hospitality and retail sectors.
Meanwhile, our highly qualified young people leave as their highly qualified young people come here! Young people doing what young people do, gaining experience and growing their skills.
Again and again, it is proven that immigration is good for an economy and for the same reason – emigrants work harder, and longer. Generations of Irish people did this abroad, and for the same reason – to give the next generation a better start in life.
[ Immigration to Ireland hits 17-year high as emigration also risesOpens in new window ]
It is why we indomitable Irish built America, and rebuilt Britain after the war. It is why, today, 33 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, as do six million British, 4.6 million Canadians, 2.5 million Australians, 700,000 Argentinians, 100,000 South Africans, etc. The basic economic truth is that they needed us, as we need immigrants in Ireland today.
Those of us who lived in this country during the 20th century never thought we’d see this day. Emigration was part of who we were, with American “wakes” and brethren home only at Christmas or, briefly, in summer. In parts of Ireland men were abroad for most of the year making a living, while women ran the home. Let’s celebrate this turnaround.
Immigration, from Latin immigratus, “to pass into a place as a new inhabitant”.
[email protected]