A slum in Ireland? What's going on? (foreclose, rent)

[northsider]

I'm reading the latest news on RTE Aertel just now. The Romanian Ambassador to Ireland said these people have permanent homes in Romania.

A number of the Romas have agreed to be repatriated and will be flown home (at Irish taxpayers expense) in the next 2 or 3 days.

The Pavee Point Roma Support Group (Wonder where did they pop up from) are up in arms, they want the Romas left here.

[LUGH]

According to today's papers, another 21 Roma gypsies joined them at the roundabout. They flew in directly from Romania last night with their tents and luggage and got taxis from the airport, straight to the roundabout. Looking to reap the rewards of a generous state.

[okaydorothy]

Well then the state has to stop being so generous. In the 80's in the uSA, if someone was deported, it was the national airline of the persons country that paid for the flight.

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[tablemtn]

By the way, there is no such thing as an 'asylum claim' from Romania - Romania is a member of the EU. Citizens of EU member states are barred from claiming asylum in other EU member states. So, asylum doesn't even apply as a legal theory here.

[northsider]

Originally Posted by LUGH

According to today's papers, another 21 Roma gypsies joined them at the roundabout. They flew in directly from Romania last night with their tents and luggage and got taxis from the airport, straight to the roundabout. Looking to reap the rewards of a generous state.

Like I said in an earlier post, I live about a mile from the site. No new arrivals as far as I can see. In fact at the moment 63 Roma have been moved to the Balsakin reception centre at the airport and are due to be flown to Romania tomorrow.

Thirty eight adults and children (23 adults, 15 children)remain after having been served with deportation orders. These 38 say they will fight to remain.

[njkate]

Hopefully Ireland stands firm...the last thing you want is an illegal alien issue like we have in the US. Major drain on the economy, social services, schools the list goes on.

[okaydorothy]

So legally they have every permission to stay.

Ireland never had an immigration problem until a few years ago. But now it does. When you give so many free services to people based on humanitarian rights etc, you are opening the gates for freeloaders to come in. I agree with humanitarian rights, but every single claim needs to be investigated. So many people came in and got free housing, free cars, free health, the list goes on and on. If someone got pregnant, they got free strollers, then got pregnant again, another free stroller. Its total abuse.

Sorry, but it pinches a nerve. Especially since we had to leave due to lack of work.
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[northsider]

I'm old enough to remember when we (Ireland) had nothing. We were practically broke financially. We were still recovering from our War of Independence followed by a very bitter Civil War, and our government at the time reflected that bitterness as it was made up in the main of former opponents in that war. And then of course we went through the recovery process following WWII (known here as The Emergency) with it's food rationing etc.

Gradually we prospered. The '60s heralded a new beginning. The 70's were tough but we soldiered on. Even into the 80's we were still struggling but we worked when we could find it.

Nobody wanted to know us. The only people that came here were tourists who came with a dream born of the Ireland in Hollywood movies.

Then gradually the cub that was to became the Celtic Tiger began to grow, and it grew until it started to roar.

Suddenly everyone started to recognise us. We had a big creamy cake at last and the world and his brother looked, saw it and wanted a slice. Those who previously couldn't have found us on a map were suddenly very interested in our little country.

And so began something that was totally foreign (no pun intended) to us. So-called refugees started to stream in, immigrants to ireland, legal and illegal.

I just wonder what will happen after they've eaten the cake. If a time comes when there's nothing left will we be forgotten and go back to being a tourist destination once more?

We have to ensure that does not happen... that we never go back to the bad old days again.

[BrianH]

Ireland has had an immigration problem since the early 90's when the fictional Celtic Tiger raised its ugly head.

[northsider]

Originally Posted by BrianH

Ireland has had an immigration problem since the early 90's when the fictional Celtic Tiger raised its ugly head.

Fictional? Ugly??

Erm... you have lived here right? I mean really lived here?