Remarks by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that immigration numbers have risen too quickly in Ireland have been described as a “new low”.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik criticised the comments, saying they were “deeply inappropriate and unhelpful”.
In an interview with the University of Notre Dame’s college newspaper this week, Mr Varadkar said that people have a “right” to think that immigration numbers have risen too quickly.
Mr Varadkar, who was visiting the United States earlier this week, told The Observer: “The majority of people think that the numbers have been too big in recent years, and they’re right.
“A country of five million people seeing its population rise by 2% a year, which is what’s happening at the moment, is too fast.”
The former Fine Gael leader pointed to the economic benefits of high migration, but warned against the rising prejudice in Ireland.
His comments were condemned by Ms Bacik.
“Clearly, Leo Varadkar is enjoying life after politics, and I’m sure Taoiseach Simon Harris is delighted to get all the free advice he’s been given by the former Taoiseach,” she said on Friday.
“On a serious note, I think it’s deeply inappropriate and unhelpful and, indeed, a really new low in political narrative to see Leo Varadkar making such a statement that suggests that there has been too much immigration.
“That doesn’t take into account the horrific war in Ukraine, that doesn’t take into account the need to provide shelter for so many fleeing war, that doesn’t take into the account the fact that around the country, employers and communities are crying out for labour.
“Every hospital, every healthcare facility, every school, every childcare facility, is looking for staff. I think these comments were deeply unhelpful. It is a new low.
“We saw the Taoiseach’s comments last week again appearing to conflate homelessness and inward migration. Really unhelpful. I criticised those.
“Then just this week, we see the main opposition party doubling down and coming out with some very strong rhetoric that was really anti-Ukraine and cannot be put any other way.
“For Labour, we’ve always stood for a fair and effective immigration system.
“We want to ensure that communities around the country are acknowledged for the welcome that’s been given to those who’ve come here, that the small number of hostile events have been a minority and an exception, and the reality is, Ireland is a welcoming country, and for Labour, we’ll always stand for an inclusive, tolerant and a diverse society.”
Asked about Mr Varadkar’s comments, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said he had not yet read the full interview, but said that the rise in population has “added to the challenges” of the housing crisis.
“I haven’t read the full interview. I’ve only heard the sort of snippets of it,” he said on Friday in Co Dublin.
“I think undoubtedly immigration poses challenges and has brought about challenges to the state, but like I’ve welcomed that, I think it’s good that we have a population that’s growing.
“I was in Beaumont Hospital yesterday, for argument’s sake, and the vast majority of our healthcare workers are people who’ve come from overseas and who have decided to make Ireland their home.
“I welcome that.
“I think the comments the former Taoiseach made with regard to … what pace that has happened, that’s reality that we’re dealing with.
“I suppose one of the issues, if you take on housing, has really been the main issue there, is that we didn’t have enough homes built for a 10-year period before this government came into office.
“We’re playing catch up there, and we are trying to be making progress in that regard.
“But you know, we’ve full employment in our economy right now.
“We’ve been 2.75 million people working when you talk across the sectors, be that construction, be that retail or hospitality, you see the challenges that businesses have actually getting staff to fill roles that are there.
“We need people actively engaged in our economy, when we need people coming into our country.
“I’m glad that our population is growing.”
