The Minister of State with responsibility for migration denies that the government is pandering to the far right with new immigration reforms.
Deputy Niall Collins is in Killarney today for Irish citizenship ceremonies, which are taking place in the Gleneagle Arena.
He says the new measures are in response to concerns of the fast growth in the population and the pressure it’s putting on services.
The Fianna Fáil TD says in 2024 185,000 people came to live in Ireland – which is 30,000 more than the population of Kerry, as per Census 2022.
Almost a third of this number were students on study visas, while it also included Irish citizens returning from abroad, and 18,000 people seeking international protection.
Junior Minister Collins refutes claims that the reforms are “political posturing”.
