Ireland: 10,000 Jobs Lost After Asylum Influx Cripples Hotels
The Irish tourism industry is on the verge of collapse after government figures suggested that up to 10,000 jobs may be lost due to using hotels to house refugees. Potentially billions have been lost as regional towns are set to miss out on lucrative summer trading.
The Republic of Ireland has struggled with an influx of refugees the past year, with 83,000 claiming asylum in 2022, compounding the country’s already pre-existing housing shortages.
“There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12
Carol Nolan questions Leo Varadkar on the massive damage being done to rural Ireland through the state-led destruction of the Irish tourism industry.
1/ pic.twitter.com/vJWPKz0xQ8— JRD (@JRD0000) May 9, 2023
The Irish government has faced sustained criticism for its use of private hotels to house asylum seekers. It is estimated that approximately one-third of hotel rooms in Ireland are being used to accommodate the recent refugee surge.
Dublin city has seen the emergence of its first refugee “tent city” this month. Online videos show clashes between locals and Middle Eastern refugees.
According to government figures, coastal towns have been most affected by the displacement of tourism jobs. To make matters worse, authorities are worried that an emergency support scheme for hotels could be illegal under EU state-aid regulations.
Independent politician Carol Nolan described Ireland as “ready to explode.” In a speech to the Irish parliament this week, she specifically brought up the threat of financial ruin, noting that communities will miss out on the financial benefit of the summer tourist trade due to the absence of hotel accommodation.
