So what are the downsides to this move? There are few jobs on the table so this is mostly a symbolic gesture. What it demonstrates to foreign investors is that we are a not restrictive in our attitudes to the free movement of labour. If every position that cannot be filled by an Irish person can now be easily be filled by someone from either one of these two countries then that makes us a more attractive country to do business in, stoopid.

More children’s allowance winging it way out of the country .

The state spends about €2.2 billion a year on Childrens allowance. Around €14 million of this went to children living outside the state. I think that’s about 0.6% of the overall budget ie nothing to worry about. I guess the racists will have to find another angle to attack foreign workers from.

Do you work in some kip of a job perhaps, no offence? Or where did you meet them? How about not painting everyone with same brush?

Looking after our own? Are you serious? Imagine if our EU partners had that attitude when we had our hand out for a bail-out, stupid.

Why should they John Paul when most Irish people couldn’t care less about Ireland nor do they have respect for our country either.

With all respect, but your knowledge of EU regulations and some people commenting here is abysmal.
NO, Ireland cannot block these people because this is EU, how many times this need to be told.
Study this article and this table, explains a lot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_movement_for_workers

Well we all know that we cant block these people ,all im saying is that things have to change for us to grow again, how can we if our social welfair bill gets bigger and bigger,easy on there “FIZI”

So cut the social welfare bill if you cannot cut EU immigration influx.
And you’ll be sorted out.

Yes thats it “fizi water” real brain wave”ya p••t.

Leigh: so I am waiting for your brain wave. Your brain wave was to do something that is against EU rules and technically cant be done. Mine idea was at least something theoretically possible.
I am awaiting your golden resolution.

So u want to cut social welfare for the people on there knees in ireland that cant get work so that more people can come and look in vain for work” i dont have the answers “FIZI” as i said before there has to b changes from the top to protect recovering countrys such as ireland.

Nobody will be “paying” anyone to live here. You have to have worked here to be entitled to the dole, stupid.

Yea im stupid (LIP SERVICE)

Leigh: who is on their knees in Ireland, are you having a laugh. Every pub or restaurant is still packed during weekends I cannot get table anywhere, go to any McDonalds, bistro or other shopping centre – packed, cinemas and music concerts – packed, tried to book hotel in Donegal area this coming long weekend, all sold out, apart for couple mediocre places, every holiday flight to Spain, Canary Islands or France is absolutely packed… I honestly don’t know who is at their knees?? You probably don’t know how it really is to be broken, Ireland is still very comfortable country to live. There are other EU countries in much worse position than Ireland and don’t block anyone from work, etc.

Ryan: and do you realize non of the EU countries puts restrictions and controls you are talking about? Why and how Ireland would apply them then? And Ireland is not the only one through the crisis now. This is against idea of having EU and against 4 elementary economical free flow freedoms. Also there are other countries in Europe with much greater immigration like Germany and its no problem for them. To give you relevant example Germany was blocking their job market for Poles till 2011 as far as I can remember, while Polish EU accession was in 2004 so for 7 years. In 2011 their tabloids were full of sceptism as some genius calculated there is 2 million of Poles waiting to jump them once they open. Number was way over estimated and new legislation mainly affected those already there and working illegaly. Germany since are booming economy and again main economical force in Europe. There is no proof / relation between EU immigration and economical slowdown. Current Irish problems are not because of foreigners, but because of own local greed and white collar crime at the highest political and financial levels.

Hi @Fizi, The vast majority of people in Ireland never blamed foreigners for the current economic woes even though they did occur through reckless lending of foreign banks and ratings cuts from foreign agencies (along with domestic greed). We all know that greed is not specific to any one nation so the fact that some of our current economic problems are indeed exacerbated by greedy locals doesn’t mean that all non-nationals are exempt from greed (just look at some non-nationals living in their home country and collecting social welfare at home).

The real point here is that there really does need to be an examination of immigration policies and controls for the good of people living on this island (nationals and non-nationals alike).

Also nobody is saying there is evidence of a direct relationship between economic slowdown and immigration – that would simply be absurd – but where there are no jobs or money for support structures for immigrants you will find this can ultimately lead to poverty for some of these immigrants and as a consequence, and I want to stress this, some, not all, will ultimately turn to crime or will suffer themselves as a consequence.

There needs to be intelligent debating about this subject. From my perspective I think we have been very open, tolerant and accepting of non-nationals into our country and have generally integrated well in comparison to what I have seen in many other countries but there is a risk that perceptions could change and that we could become less tolerant if this debate is marred by mud slinging and off-topic rants.

Sure and all Irish are real ambassadors of Ireland and patriots and care about its country in every sense.
I can clearly see that in all the littering, anti-social behaviour, crime and pukes at every square metre in Dublin.
This arguing does not make sense, so let’s leave it as it is. I know non Irish nationals than care more for Ireland than most Irish, your experience was different, fair enough, you probably talked to seasonal workers with no intention of settling down, growing family, making home.

@fizi_water – I tend to give you a thumbs up on most comments but I take exception to your comment that you know non nationals that care more for Ireland than “most Irish”. I know you are Polish and the Polish community are a great asset to our country but having worked in a very large multinational organisation I have worked with many non-nationals and like most Irish people I have many non-national friends and whilst some do really love Ireland there are many and I would venture to say most that don’t give a flying f**k about our country, its traditions or people. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see or understand this either. The reason people go to one place a or b is to benefit themselves in one way or another. You won’t see the the same people who spitefully critique everything about us (Irish) happily skip home to their lost paradise and there are many good reasons for that.

Wayne: as I said earlier, fair enough I respect your opinion however cannot fully agree. I agree there is definitely number of foreigners not caring about Ireland, but then what not caring really means to you? I definitely see many Irish not caring about Ireland too. From all foreign people I know there is only small percentage that I am ashamed of. great lot are fantastic hard working people very much making Ireland their home, participating in communities and other stuff. I don’t know how else they should be showing they care for this place as irelands future is their future. Thanks anyway for an opinion!

Stop talking crap, that is an insult to the thousands that had to leave the country. Cop on

Oh please Vimal, i have applied for kitchen work, yard work, and every other kind of job and was turned down because i was too well educated.

Next thing i know they literally employed foreigners to do the job.

I was prepared to work for minimum wage and get off the dole.

I know for a fact they got employed for less and when i reported it, i got laughed at.

Not true, Vimal.

It’s not the workforce from these countries that’s the problem, take a look at dame street any night of the week. nWe need a system that allows people wanting to work and add to society enter while refusing beggars criminals and spungers. nGuess this post makes me a racist. Ah well I’d like to think a realist but not around here

Chris,
I’m referring to the legitimate workforce of these countries. I agree it would be great to be able to separate the two, but can’t see how that will happen when freedom of movement is guaranteed by the EU. It’s a long way from perfect but it’s what we signed up to.