Sharon Keogan calls for debate on immigration, links migration to crime
Sharon Keogan spoke on the state of the immigration debate in Ireland, urging an open and frank discussion and arguing that migration is linked to rising crime. She criticised the government and others for avoiding the debate and connected weakened law enforcement and underfunding to the growth of organised crime.
Main argument
Keogan said the debate about immigration has made progress but remains insufficient. She maintained there is a link between migration and crime and insisted the topic must be discussed openly rather than dismissed as pandering to extremists.
Illustrative cases cited
She referenced the case of the rapist of a 10-year-old girl in City West as an example of sensitive ongoing matters where language must be careful. She also discussed the burning of an IPA centre in Drogheda, noting initial accusations against the far-right were later undermined when alleged arsonists were linked to organised crime and a gang feud.
Law enforcement and data
Keogan argued there is a direct line between those who have disempowered the Gardaí and the rise of gangland violence, and between chronic underfunding of law enforcement and the growth of organised crime. She noted the government withholds Irish data but said European data show unmanaged migration has been associated with increased crime in other countries.
Warnings about consequences
She warned that opening borders to effectively unlimited unvetted arrivals amid crises in crime, housing, cost of living and public services will make problems worse. Keogan predicted more stabbings, rapes, arson attacks and riots if the issues are not addressed and described silencing concerns as "total and utter suicidal insanity."
Call for debate
Keogan urged colleagues, the media and policymakers to engage in a serious debate on immigration that weighs risks and benefits and focuses on real problems and solutions. She repeatedly concluded by calling for an open debate on immigration.
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Leader, I rise today to speak on the state of immigration debate in Ireland, more accurately the debate about having a debate. It's progress, but not enough. In one breath, we are told to thread carefully with discussing the origins of the rapist of the 10-year-old girl in City West, because the case is still ongoing. You have to be careful in your language. You said it as a fact as opposed to an allegation, so I just want you to be clear. Thank you. But in the next, TDs fall over themselves to denounce the phantom far-right in connection with the horrific burning of an IPA centre in Drogheda, only for it to emerge that the alleged arsonists were linked to organised crime and the attack was likely part of a gang feud. Many in the so-called opposition were quick to point fingers at the government for even hinting that immigration levels might be too high, accusing ministers of pandering to the extremists. One member even claimed that there was a direct line between those comments and the arson attack. I say there is another direct line. A line between those who have disempowered our Gardaí and the rise of gangland violence. A line between the chronic underfunding of law enforcement and the growth of organised crime. And there is a link between sticking our head in the sand and migration making the crisis worse. Because like it or not, there is a link between migration and crime. There are many who get uncomfortable hearing it, but it is a fact. The government withholds Irish data from us, but it makes no difference. We already have decades of data from across Europe and the results are clear. Unmanaged migration has resulted in increased crime in France, in Germany, in Sweden and in the Netherlands. Do I need to go on? But if we lived in a stable, prosperous and well-managed nation, it would be fair to have a discussion that would weigh this danger of migration against its potential benefits to our economy. But we do not live in such a nation. We live in a nation where there is a crisis in crime, where there is a crisis in housing, where there is a crisis in cost of living, and where there is a crisis in government services. And into this mess, we then throw open borders to effectively unlimited numbers of unvetted arrivals, and we expect nothing to go wrong. In fact, we could go further and denounce anyone who warns that things will go wrong. This is not irresponsible. This is total and utter suicidal insanity. Dear colleagues, it is time to talk seriously about what the real problems and solutions in this nation are. Because if people in these houses and in the media are too busy trying to feel good about themselves, then it pains me deeply to say they will create the exact crisis they claim they want to avoid. There will be more stabbings, there will be more rapes, and there will be more arson attacks, and there will be more riots. And in here, people will keep wasting their breath, accusing each other of being far-eyed. So please, let us have a debate on immigration. Thank you. Please, thank you, thank you, sir.
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