Ireland: Tighter immigration policy favoured by 66% - poll

[jd in .hu]

Tighter immigration policy favoured by 66% - poll

RUADHÁN Mac CORMAIC, Migration Correspondent

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0910/1220919678623.html

ALMOST TWO-THIRDS of adults in the State believe immigration policy
should be made more restrictive given the worsening economic outlook,
according to an opinion poll to be published today.

The survey by Amárach Research for a national integration debate due
to be held in Dublin this evening found generally positive attitudes
towards recent immigration, with 54 per cent saying it had on balance
been good for Ireland. Some 33 per cent felt immigration had been bad
for the country and 13 per cent believed it had made little
difference.

When asked about future policy, however, given the economic outlook,
66 per cent felt immigration policy should be made more restrictive.
Seven per cent said it should be made less restrictive and 27 per cent
felt the policy should be left as it is.

Women, the over-55s, middle-income earners and those from Munster were
more likely to favour tighter restrictions.

The poll was conducted last week among a sample of 1,000 adults in the
Republic. Some of the respondents were themselves foreign nationals,
but they represented too small a subsample to be separated for
analysis.

Gerard O'Neill, chairman of Amárach Research, said respondents had
distinguished between their views of recent immigration - which were
very positive - and their concerns about future levels.

"People are now saying we couldn't continue as we have been given the
new economic realities that we're facing. It's saying there isn't a
problem now, but there's a concern that were things to continue at a
pace similar to the past 10 years, then it may well give rise to a
problem," he added.

Responses to questions on the integration of immigrants showed
feelings of limited progress. Some 59 per cent said the Government was
doing too little in the area, while 30 per cent felt it was doing
enough and 11 per cent suggested it was doing too much.

Just under a third of respondents were aware of groups in their area
active in promoting integration.

Dubliners, higher earners and the middle-aged were more likely to
suggest immigrants were integrated.

On the effects of immigration on public services, 42 per cent were "a
little worried" about its impact on the education system.

Another 35 per cent were "not at all worried", with 23 per cent
"extremely worried". Asked about the health service, 39 per cent were
"a little worried", 28 per cent not at all and 33 per cent "extremely
worried".

Mr O'Neill said it was noteworthy that young people and women were
more likely to feel immigration had been bad for Ireland.

"Forty-eight per cent of females said it was a good thing versus 37
per cent a bad thing, while 58 per cent of men said it's a good thing,
[and] 30 per cent a bad thing," he said.

"Women in particular are less positive about the impact of immigration
than men. There's a fairly significant difference."

© 2008 The Irish Times