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wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

I am one of these of course. There has been a great population shift throughout the western world over the past few years. This question is directed to the Irish People on this site. What do you think of us immagrants, EU or otherwise settling in your country? Very Happy

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quarryman · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 417 Location: Sligo

Hi Wayland, the more the merrier. It is great to have an ecclectic mix in this country especially when they [bloody foreigners] bring a different perspective to our lives. I personally love to see and hear their traditions and languages in everyday use.
The Irish were a nation of emmigrants who built other peoples countries, faught in other peoples armies but they also integrated while keeping their own traditions. One's origins are too important to give up if one choses to live in a country different to that in which one was born.
My family line came to Ireland as Scottish mercenaries [ Gallowglass ] but stayed and became Irish over a few hundred so therefore I am decended from "bloody foreigners" I keep using this term as it sums up the pettiness of rascism.
Our country on the whole welcomes strangers who will become friends and as for those who do not welcome them, well f*** them they are not worth bothering about.

Michael

gai · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 83 Location: Co Donegal

I have to agree with quarryman on this one. I was part of the emmigrant generation in the 80's. England was very good to OH and myself. We worked very hard but received wages which were unheard of here in Ireland at the time. I'm sorry to say that we squandered most of it living the high life but we've got very good memories of our 20's. Most of my classmates emmigrated, primarily to America, and sadly not many have come home.
The influx of immigrants that the celtic tiger has brought us has been good for this little island. One of the most exciting things to happen has been the availability of new and exciting foodstuffs (my belly is never far from my mind). I love nosing through the Polish, African and Asian shops that are springing up everywhere and trying new tastes. I also enjoy hearing different languages being spoken and love to watch how different nationalities interact with each other. The Irish were not known for expressing their emotions very well and it's lovely to see their open shows of affection, especially towards children.
By far the best change has been how the focus has been taken off our own petty little squabbles between each other. Much of the narrow minded bigotry and hypocrisy which was crippling and holding the country back has gone and hopefully most of us see the wider picture now.
Some folk blame the rise in crime, burden on the health service and other such things on the high immigration levels but I think these things would have happened anyway.

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Thanks for your opinions guys Smile

I asked this question because I want to get on with me neighbours so to speak. I find you Irish the nicest people on earth as I did in the UK, but what do you realy think?. I am sure that there are those who think that Ireland should be for the Irish. Like wise there are many that think England for the english etc. With over sixty million people living in the UK it is getting somewhat crowded. This is why we moved here. We needed a bit of space to retire into. The most often words of criticism made of certain sections of the immagrant populating in the UK, is there reluctance to intergrate. So we get complete areas of one ethnic peoples who demand there culture be at the fore front of there every day life. Schooling being a case in point. This does get peoples back up. We can and are willing by and large to get on with every body but we need to get to know them. This cannot not happen if there is no intergration of course. I have relatives who have moved to France. When asked if they are going to learn french, they replyed "No Need. We have a large English population around us". So we are as guilty as the rest. This will certainly not help Anglo French relations, which is never very good at the best of times. So please say what you think here. It will help. Wink

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jon234567890 · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 10

I just recently employed my first 'foriegne' (Slav) worker, (not including an Englishman Laughing

), on the whole, most employers that have had experience of Slavic workers say that they work better and harder than the native population, on and of I've employed three over the past two years (through Temp. Agencies) and I would agree with this general sentiment (I am well aware this is Reversed Racism).

The influx of 'foreign' workers is caused primarily by two things:
1. Cheaper Labour Costs to Companies: the Native workers insist on ever Higher Wages (you can't blame them), companies try and reduce these Labour Costs and therefore want to hire at the same Old Rate - which foreign workers are willing to work for.
2. Low Interest Rates: the Gov. wants to keep Wage Inflation down, which will keep Highstreet Inflation down, which in turn enables Lower Interest Rates, and therefore Lower Mortgage Payments - this helps the Gov. keep the people happy and they stay in power.
A constant supply of Cheap(er) Labour to companies is therefore needed.

This is a Short/Medium Term solution to a Long Term Problem; this problem Confused

would be reduced if Employment Law was reduced and the Welfare System cut to the bone.

The problem with these two reasons, for the Gov. allowing / encouraging immigration, is that the immigration is constant, I am already starting to see foreign workers directly competing with native workers for higher paid / mainstream jobs, Insurance Broker, Bank Cashier, etc.
And whenever we have an economic downturn (which we will) this competition for jobs will become Very Clear, IF the foreign workers HAVE NOT integrated into OUR society (and WE have NOT Accepted Them), then, that is when you get Very Significant Racial Tension; or as Enoch Powell put it "Rivers Of Blood".

If people don't like foreign workers, then all they have to do is get rid of Employment (protection) Law, the Welfare System, and accept a Pay Cut Shocked

Jon.

blowin · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:10 pm Post subject:

Being a "blow-in" myself one thing I was particularly concerned about was the impact we are having on the price of the older properties . Coming over here with what seems like a fortune from a redundancy package or equity from the sale of an overpriced house in the affluent south-east of the uk . Buying up the derelict buildings at an inflated price ( but still cheap by comparison with the uk ) and depriving the locals of an opportunity to make a start on the property ladder . This was a big issue in Wales some years ago , what with activists burning the outsiders' houses down , only talking their own language when englishmen were around , etc .
It isn't the same scenario but I can't see how our own lads can ever get off the ground in the uk , with a very small one bed starter home in the middle of an estate starting at £120 k ( 180,000 euro ! ) . Anyway , it was a very pleasant surprise to be told by several locals that it really isn't a problem because the Irish would not take on the heap of rubble even if you paid them . It has to be modern or the younger generation won't consider it .
The situation in Wales was worse in that a lot of the property bought by outsiders was only used as holiday homes so entire communities collapsed in the winter but I still think it could become an issue over here . The solution , of course , is for us to integrate and make a positive contribution to the local community and economy . Talking of which , that "fortune" you might come over with has an alarming way of disappearing without trace . It just gets sucked into the land and buildings if you aren't very careful . Mine certainly has !

jon234567890 · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 10

Blowin,
your right, it's about integration, a lot of (Northern) Irish businessmen I have dealings with really dislike the English - because they have a very arrogant attitude towards us 'irish in Ireland', "we" therefore have a bit of a chip on our shoulder whenever we meet an Englishman in Ireland (this is ironic when a 1/3 of all englishmen have irish ancestry), BUT IF the 'Englishman' integrates with us, then "we" just think of him as an Irishman that speaks funny Wink

On the subject of integration, I was listening to a programme about the Gov. trying to extend Discrimination Laws to include Faith Based Schools, the example given was a purely Jewish School, I don't have a problem with a Jewish School hiring only Jewish believers - it's a completely different matter if it was based on race, eg. a White Only School Shocked

Even if you meet a Practicing Jew, he has integrated as much as his faith permits, and he has now become a Sub-Group within our Society (like Evangelical Christians, or Fundamentalist Muslims), However the Key difference between, eg. a Fundamentalist Christian / Jew and a Fundamentalist Muslim, is that a F. Muslim wants to destroy Our society, and every other Society as well, and replace it with his F. System, I don't believe that these people can ever be integrated into our society (mainly because they don't want to).

Blowin, I was shocked to hear about the hostility towards the English in Wales, but it kindof proves my point, if one buys a house (that should've been a Home) to only use it as a Holiday House - then that is not Integration - and will naturally create a LOT of resentment with the locals.

Jon.

wayland · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 1171 Location: Campile. Wexford

Good Post Jon. The Welsh have always disliked the English. This is a tradition that extends to many other races. I think it is only the Dutch that have time for us. Bless them. I think its a legacy handed down to us from our old empire days. The Yanks may well have to deel with the same in the future. Ho Hum. Keep the posts comming lads. It all makes for good reading Very Happy

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keithrawlins · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 152 Location: banbridge

1. Cheaper Labour Costs to Companies: the Native workers insist on ever Higher Wages (you can't blame them), companies try and reduce these Labour Costs and therefore want to hire at the same Old Rate - which foreign workers are willing to work for.

the half dozen or so poles thst work with me are on the same rate as me.

come and work yes .come and sit on the dole claiming benifits NO.

this includes all you bloody southeners. Laughing

bref · Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 136 Location: South Dublin

Re your last post Wayland.
I think you said it when you wrote 'a tradition that extends to other races'. I do think myself that there is certainly an ingrained dislike towards (I'll say England here). I believe that the 'State' is at the center of peoples ire(sp) rather than the people. This might explain your average Irish Seamus soap, screaming blue bloody murder at the telly(not in a good way) when say, England are playing football against any other country, (Seamus will be supporting 'any other country), but then if you asked him what he thought of English people he'd say, 'Jaysus he didnt have a problem with them at all, and sure half his cousins are English and their grand..'
There are exceptions to EVERY rule of course.