Are the majority of people in Ireland “worried that people are coming into Ireland illegally, staying here and freeloading off the state?”

Of the sample 3,016 people, the optional survey questions ‘Issues that may have impacted vote’ (Q7) were completed by 999 people. From this group, 529 people agreed with the statement. (53%). The sample size was therefore two thirds smaller than the coordinated random and representative sample.

From the outset, the language and framing of the poll statement is problematic. It is a leading question. The term ‘freeloading’ is one which had been used by previous presidential hopeful and European election independent candidate Peter Casey during the 2019 relation to people living in direct provision in Ireland. In an interview with the Sunday Times on April 28, 2019 during the hustings Peter Casey called for “freeloaders” who came to Ireland to be “put back on the plane”. 

“What we can’t afford is to become a haven for freeloaders: people who come in because they know that Ireland won’t deport them and will give them accommodation, will give them education, will give them medical services.”

This statement was widely condemned by other candidates running for election such as Brendan Smith (FF), Matt McCarthy (SF), Luke Ming Flanagan (Ind) and Mairead McGuinness (FG).

Merriam-Webster defines ‘freeloading’ as: “to impose upon another’s generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility involved”. The word strikes an overtly negative word. By using the word ‘freeloading’ in the statement in this context creates an immediate bias.

According to the Immigration Council of Ireland: ‘It is only through citizenship that someone can enjoy all the rights, entitlements and supports on a fully equal basis with all other Irish people.’ Undocumented people, or those who have come here illegally cannot access social welfare. It is worth stating that although people who have come here illegally cannot access social welfare, they do still have rights.

On issues related to illegal migration, there are three dimensions worth noting.

1. There are an estimated 20,000 – 26,000 undocumented people living and working in Ireland (in Ireland illegally); most of whom overstayed visas, rather than travelled illegally, according to the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland.
2. Other people who are deemed to have entered Ireland illegally are those who are potential victims of human trafficking, according to the Refugee Council of Ireland.
3. By way of comparison, TheJournal.ie reports that there are anything from 10,000-15,000 undocumented Irish in the USA and tens of millions in India and millions in Pakistan and Iran (mainly from Afghanistan) as documented by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in November 2018. This is not a local challenge alone but a common occurrence in other countries and other jurisdictions.

According to the same exit poll data, 7 out of 10 voters agreed that migration has benefitted Ireland.