Meet you in Vegas Marilyn, I kow a nice little chapel. xxx.

All back to Ireland yes? 50,000 of them?

I think people just get a bit pissed off over here seeing supposedly ‘poor’ refuge children walking around with Beats earphones when they’re working and can’t afford to do the same.

What?? Glad to hear you are here legally Banu! America does not tolerate illegal immigration and either should Ireland. I’m sure you would feel the same about illegal immigration into your home country?

John F, she’s not giving sympathy to the illegal immigrant Irish in US. She’s commenting about Irish attitudes here to blow ins.

James…. What eveidence do you have to decern whether the person wearing the Beats Headphones are refugees? Further, if the person is a refugee… How do you know if the headphones were a gift from an employeed benefactor?

James, how can you tell if someone is a refugee? Do they wear a badge?

Cut the PC crap! That is all.

James… What’s the problem. Did you not get the Beats headphones from Santi as you had hopped?

I’m actually using them now on my new iPad while I write you this message. I was a good boy!

Great stuff James! You appear to be decent guy… Please keep in mind that your comment about the Beats was an assumption.

Would you all assume because of my skin colour and the fact that I have all of the material niceties. .. That I’m on welfare, a refugee and manipulating the Irish system?

I have absolutely no problem withsome one coming to another country and working, not sponging. It doesn’t make the slightest difference to me what race or nationality they are. It would be very hypocritical of me otherwise because I work and live abroad and I held the same view before I left.

So as an enlightened individual. .. Why did you mention refugee? A refugee could be here for many reasons. A refugee could very well be employed. Further. .. A refugee, in most cases, hasn’t been here long enough to have a history. So looking down on them isn’t fair. Especially while there is a huge contingency of Irish intergenerational welfare recipients who aee milking the system for cent possible.

My point is this. .. If you are healthy… You should be workng. If you don’t make enough money to sustain yourself, then don’t try to grow a family. If you don’t know how to make yourself employable… Then ask for non-financial help.

You’ll probably hate me for this but it’s just based honestly on observations I make. In dublin I mostly see young Africans with them and they’re probably the least I see working so it sticks in my mind. I think you might have the wrong end of the stick and think I don’t like people for taking advantage of the state, I blame the state for letting them. After all how do refugees get to Ireland? Aren’t they meant to claim refuge in the first country the get to?

Your observation may be sound. But may not be fact. Also, thanks for being honest.

However, please consider this… First of all.. There are several different races for refugees. In essence, they all don’t have dark skin. Secondly, very few speak English well enough to vet jobs in City Centre Dublin. So if there is a job they’re going to get… It will be closer to the location they reside. In addition to this… If they do find a job… It’s probably going to be a job where they are exploited.

One last thing to consider. Younger refugees may not have had a choice about moving to Ireland. There parents may have decision. Or a small family may have originally moved here. However, persecution or danger may have forced the remaining family to relocate to Ireland. So you have young people suffering from culture shock and hating Ireland because tbey were taken from what they know. The headphones that you speak of may be the only thing of value the kid has and apeases him. Or makes him feel he’s blending in.

Banu, Don’t mind these people for they dont attend schools so they are ignorant and when they go to the U.S.A they become criminals and terrorists, i guess americaS and british and france,canada australia and africa don’t need these kids of people.

Marlon, it’s not just Americans. All immigrants have to jump through hoops. Yet Irish expect to be welcomed everywhere.

Considering the relationship our two countries have… You’d think there would be more of a welcome in this country for American emigrants. But then again… Our Irish government, most recently, appears to be challenged by sound decisions.

Actually the system is so broken in Ireland ethnically Irish US citizens have been deported before.

Its shocking however the government are supporting Irish illegality in the US, I find it very odd, I thought we wanted to friends to the US??

I would argue that our Irish politicians are far from being fair. I would put forward that they are very selfish. They would much rather look after themselves and their own, than look after the people tbe swore to look after. The job of being a politician is akin to being a police officer. You don’t take up the profession for the money. However, it appears that our politicians do. An example would be… Their huge salaries…. Bertie, Enda and all tbe rest are taming huge salaries while they are seeking ways to cut tbe salaries of the public sector.

I’m not saying saying that the upper and middle management salaries don’t need to be reduced. I’m suggesting that our politicians lead by example, and reduce their own salaries first. This in itself would be a huge public service. But I’m sure they don’t see it this way. They see themselves as carrying equal responsibilities as their American counterparts.

The difference is in America… Gratuitous selfishness by a politician would be the end of tbeir career.

First of all, there aren’t that many people moving to Ireland having to jump through hoops besides Americans. There are some. Americans have plenty of hoops because America isn’t part of the EU. If you live in the EU, you are accepted over an American for just about everything. You could be a native born German citizen and move to Ireland, get a job and living arrangements with nothing but the cost of travel to Ireland and first months plus deposit. If you want to move to Ireland from America, there are more costs and hoops than ANYONE, Irish or not, have to pay to live and work here…

Reciprocity Mike. I’m not seeking a Carte Blanche entry program for Americans. But I do seek some kind of extra benfit for Americans in the Irish citizenship process. Especially, if Irish who are living illegally in America are given the opportunity to become legal American citizens.

Your government has been lobbying the American government to accept those undocumented Irish for years… And in return what will America get?

50,000 in america,100,000 in britain ,600,000 in canada 1000,000 in south africa, 700,000 in spain 20,000 in japan 400,000 in germany. wtf ????

A country of double standards. What’s good food the gander isn’t good for the goose!

Jesus this country is getting more and more ignorant all the time.

Whose looking for your sympathy? Would you say the same if you had a brother or sister in such a situation?

If you have chosen to break the law of the land you should not be rewarded for doing so. I have had ample opportunity to move there illegally but chose to pursue the legitimate route with little success to date. Shouldn’t any amendment account for people who have followed the correct avenues?

What a clueless comment. Some people have no choice.

‘Clueless comment’ please explain? Why should they be entitled to special treatment if they’re Irish? Do you hold the same opinion of the ‘undocumented’ here

Have you seen what an undocumented person will have to do to get started on the road to legal status? A fine in the region of $5000-$10000; Payment of back taxes; A 5 year probationary period in which time the worker cannot claim any benifits or get health insurance. A fine reward indeed. There is also a provision in where any undocumented worker cannot get a green card ahead of anyone who has applied in the proper fashion. Please do your research. The Irish are a drop in the ocean of the estimated 11 million undocumented workers currently in the U.S.

Could you please provide the source of your information. Thanks

The last bill introduced to the senate was Kennedy/ Mcain bill in 2005. What I laid out were the provisions of this act. Also in a press conference held by Sen MCain and the bi-partisan “gang of eight” earlier today reiterated these provisions. If you look for the website for Senator John Mcain (R) Arizona, I’m sure you will find further details.

Its actually spelt McCain

By the way, the 2006 bill scraped through the senate but got crushed by the house, (even with a Democratic majority.)

@Donal Burns from Reuters
The Republicans are Senator John McCain, his party’s 2008 presidential candidate who has long been involved in immigration issues and is from the southwest border state of Arizona; freshman Senator Marco Rubio from Florida.

* A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP: There are an estimated 11 million people living in the United States – many of them for decades – who arrived illegally. Most are from Mexico, Central American and South American countries.

The senators’ plan would require those here illegally to register with the federal government and pass a background check. They would have to pay a fine and back taxes to earn a “probationary legal status,” according to a document outlining the program.

Clearing these hurdles would give these illegal residents a legal status for the first time.

Those people earning the status would go to the back of the line of prospective immigrants who have applied through legal means to come to the United States. They also will have to learn English, continue to pay taxes and demonstrate a work history in the United States to apply for legal permanent residency.

Those who successfully do so would get a “green card” allowing them to live and work permanently in the United States. From there, they could apply for citizenship, like any other green card holder.

Adrian, they wouldn’t have to do that if they’d been legal immigrants in the first place. No sympathy for illegals.

Again. They are not looking for your sympathy. I’m sure they could care less what you think.

The fact remains, they are illegal immigrants. They broke the law. They should have to take the consequences: fines, deportation, whatever.

They are being fined. They do face deportation. I’m sure the people of Ireland would like to see 50,000 returning emigrants, cap in hand, looking around for work in a country where is hardly any. Is that what the country needs?

Paul Dillane. Please explain why some people have no choice?

Think before you speak.
Some had no choice.
Brought here as children by parents crossing the border from Mexico. That’s who I feel sorry for.
A program was introduced a short while ago to allow those people (as long as under 31, are in school, or graduated already, or got a GED, or served in armed forces) to work legally. It does not supply a green card or a pathway to citizenship. So if you are over 31 you are s.o.o.l.
These are exceptional circumstances and should be taken into account, as these people were children, had no say and it’s the only country they know. They have to live in fear and in the shadows.
I’m Irish and got my green card and citizenship many years ago… I don’t think there should be special privileges for any specific nation including Ireland.

John Phoenix. Whilst I understand what you are saying, I’m trying to stay on topic which is, why should undocumented Irish get special treatment?

Well u grouped in all illegals in your response to Adrian.
As I said in my last post I don’t think the Irish or any specific nation should have preferential treatment.
Certain groups however, like the ones brought here as kids with no say in the matter, should be looked at first though.

McCain is a weasel and a constant embarrassment to AZ. I often call his office to complain of his carryon. He should really retire soon.

I look fwd to hearing Obama’s plan on Tuesday that he is supposedly going to announce from Vegas.