Ireland, a land of milk and honey, not just in terms of its economy but has embraced mature liberalism by removing Article 8 of the Irish constitution. It had also become a socially liberal and a politically progressive region of the EU, free from the scourge of anti-migrant populism. Varadkar who recently resigned was the one who played the anti-Brit card during Brexit in that, rather than acting as the bridge between the UK and the EU he took the opportunity to show his political kahunas by poking the Brits in the eye. He saw the issue of on an open border between the North and the South as some sort of moral crusade and, anything that remotely resembled a border he suggested, could see the return of republican violence. Ironically, as the issue of refugees and migration tops the political agenda Fine Gael is thinking of sending Garda officers to “the border.” It now looks like Varadkar’s and Coveney’s Irish border posturing during Brexit is not quite working out.
What is clear, is that populism has raised its ugly head in Ireland with the rise of far-right Irish nationalism which has embraced a violent anti-immigrant agenda. Dublin has seen the establishment of tented areas set up by migrants and to be fair, people are rightly concerned. However, to be clear this is a failure of the Irish State. Helen McEntee’s unfounded claim that 80% of migrants entering the South are coming in from the North and this was directly related to Sunak’s stupid Rwanda policy, which is stupid, was undermined by Michael Martin who said, there was no data to prove this assertion.
Immigration will become a key issue in the next Irish election, consequently, Fine Gael and its new Prime Minister are already portraying themselves as hawks on the issue. So, where is the best place to start, correct, blame the Brits. The reality is that Irish politicians have been blinded by a misbelief in Irish exceptionalism and on migration, a belief that Ireland and its people were utopianly tolerant and hip. Fine Gael has failed to see, that inspite of Ireland’s economic success and newfound international status, it is not immune to a Marie Le Pen, Éric Zemmour and ADF-type populism.
To finish, I am an entrepreneur who has travelled up and down between the 6 and the 26 for many years, doing business in both Dublin and Limerick. I will continue to make that journey to meet friends and colleagues. So, if any Garda officer asks me to show proof of identity, I will not be a happy bunny and firmly quote Travis Bickle from the movie Taxis Driver “You talkin to me? seriously,” You talkin’ to me?
Suneil Sharma at the https://grumpyoldbastard870122708.wordpress.com/
5th May 2024
The Gob 
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