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In our audit of the Dublin European election candidates, we asked candidates to answer questions on nine of the most pressing issues facing Ireland and Europe in the coming years.
Mark Durkan
Yes, I think Ireland has to be ready to support and assist asylum seekers and refugees whether they come to Ireland directly or come here via elsewhere into the EU. Again, as an MP in Westminster, refugees and asylum seekers was one of the issues I had campaigned on and worked with other MPs on.
So, it would be hypocritical to have been criticising and challenging in relation to the UK if I wasn’t also saying that Ireland needs to be ready to do more for refugees and asylum seekers who are trying to escape desperate circumstances and also to support our EU partners.
Frances Fitzgerald
Yes. We in Ireland are a nation of emigrants and we know how it is to have to move for economic reasons, social reasons, or due to conflict. As Minister for Justice, I was happy to welcome asylum seekers and refugees on Ireland’s behalf, to help people who need it the most in their hour of need. When asylum seekers and refugees arrive in Ireland, we need to make sure that they are properly integrated and included into our communities and have the opportunity to prosper here.
In addition, we need more burden sharing in terms of migrant quotas. Greece, Italy, Spain and Malta have taken vast numbers of refugees and we need to make sure that a fairer system is built to make sure that safer and more legal routes are available for migrants.
People migrate for many reasons, including economic, social and political reasons. I want to ensure that a constructive and mutually beneficial partnership with Africa is put in place, ensuring that people are not under pressure to move from Africa for economic reasons.
Alice Mary Higgins
Irish people have migrated in their hundreds of thousands, and we should have empathy and understanding of what it is to leave your home and the circumstances, including war and hunger, that drive people to that decision. The numbers seeking refuge in Ireland are relatively small and I do believe Ireland can support more of those who end up in Greece and Italy, as well as more programme refugees.
I also believe Ireland should resume search and rescue in the Mediterranean – the lives lost there and the human rights abuses committed in immigration camps in Libya are a stain on Europe’s international reputation. The EU should do more to address the conflict and climate change that help drive migration as well as creating ‘safe passage routes for people fleeing those situations. In the Seanad I supported legislation to restore rights taken away in 2013 and help recognised refugees reunite with dependent family members.
There is an international human right to seek asylum and the direct provision system is not an acceptable way to treat people, many of whom are trapped in limbo for many years.
Lastly, at a time when some across Europe are seeking to promote an opportunistic politics of division, I think we should be thoughtful in how we frame these issues and avoid using language like ‘burden’ in relation to fellow humans in desperate situations.
Ciarán Cuffe
I think it is important that Europe shares the responsibility towards those who are fleeing their countries. The Dublin Agreement says that you need to seek asylum in the first place you’ve got to. That has put inordinate pressures on Italy, on Greece and on Malta. So I think it is important that the challenge is shared around other countries.
Look, I’m a councillor in the north inner city. Almost half the people who live there weren’t born in Ireland. It’s been great for Dublin. The range of choices in terms of different music, different foods, different cultures, different happenings is amazing. Yes, we need to control immigration but we do need to recognise that it can be a huge asset to countries as well.
Rita Harrold
I oppose the repugnant and racist “Fortress Europe” policy of the EU has meant that in 2018 an estimated 2,297 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean sea. I stand for the democratic right to asylum for those fleeing wars, persecution, environmental destruction and poverty, and oppose all racist immigration controls that exist in Ireland.
I oppose all deportations and demand an end to Direct Provision.
Migrants and non-migrants in Ireland should not be pitted in competition with each other for access to affordable homes, decent jobs and access to public services. This is what elements in the political establishment want and flows from the present rigged economic system does. This also creates a breeding ground for divisive and reactionary right-wing politics. There is ample wealth and resources to provide a decent life for everyone. The problem is the private ownership of wealth and the drive for profit that has facilitated an ever-increasing divide between the ‘masters of the universe’ billionaires, and the rest, the majority of whom are working people who work and create the wealth that exists.
It’s no surprise that the current government of the super-rich has licked up to tax avoiding corporate giants like Apple, who are in the Irish Times reported this week have an annual turnover of €119 billion, while showing no serious attempt to help refugees, victims of imperialist war and environmental destruction that corporations profit from. We stand for the building of a movement to ensure that everyone from Irish workers, to migrant workers, to the traveller community, to refugees have homes, jobs and services. Fundamentally this means breaking with the capitalist market and system.
Lynn Boylan
We are dealing with a political crisis not a refugee crisis. The Irish government should focus on actually delivering what they committed to in terms of numbers of refugees to be resettled and relocated in Ireland.
Barry Andrews
Yes, the Dublin Convention hasn’t worked, especially since 2015.
The EU needs a responsive and compassionate policy on asylum seekers and refugees that recognises the integrity of its borders.
A humane, collective EU wide asylum process should include an expedited mechanism to process applications in every state. I believe all states, including Ireland, should play our part in providing assistance and refuge to those fleeing conflict, climate change and extreme poverty.
Clare Daly
Yes, absolutely. In relative terms Ireland receives a very small number of asylum seekers annually, and we recognise even fewer. Ireland received around 0.6% of all new asylum claims in the EU in 2018. We’re a wealthy state, we can do more. We must also stop facilitating US warplanes through Shannon to go and fight in wars that drive people out of their homes in the first place.
Alex White
Yes. At present thousands of people fleeing war, poverty and persecution in Syria and Iraq live a very precarious life in camps and temporary accommodation in Southern Europe. That can’t continue. Ireland needs to play its part in providing these people with a secure, safe haven from war.
From my engagement with the Syrian and Iraqi communities the vast majority want to return home to help rebuild their country when some degree of stability returns. We should give these people shelter and security in the meantime.
Of course some families will legally stay in Ireland, contribute to our economy, our cultural life and our communities. I welcome this also.
Mark Mullen
Yes, I am in favour of increasing the number of refugees resettled in Ireland through the Irish Refugee Protection Program. I think that we can also increase our acceptance quota of asylum seekers. I would support the gradual phasing out of direct provision with the adoption of practical solutions.
Given our neutrality and history, Ireland should be seen globally as a beacon of hope for refugees fleeing conflict in search of protection. We should see refugees as contributing a great deal to our society. Their contribution should be welcomed and valued.
Gary Gannon
Yes. I believe Ireland is not currently taking in its fair share of asylum seekers and refugees, with our population at 2.1 per 1,000 residents, which is among the lowest in Europe and a small fraction of many of our European neighbours.
But I believe need to do this not only because of our moral obligation as a nation with a strong emigrant tradition, but also because of the economic, social and cultural benefits which migrant communities bring to our capital and country.
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Nothing but a money making scheme, how many accidents have been on this stretch of road? Soon these ‘safety’ cameras will be generating millions, at the expense of the motorist, on every motorway in Ireland.
@Hugh Fogerty: not really. They work really well in the UK. 120kmph is more than enough for anyone to be doing on any road in Ireland. If you know you will end up with points and a fine you just won’t speed! Simple.
@Hugh Fogerty: If people stick to the limit, they won’t get fined. It’s that simple.
@Hugh Fogerty: Very easy way to throw a spanner in the works of this money making scheme.
@Hugh Fogerty: you probably think taxation is theft too, yeah?
@Hugh Fogerty: If you’re thick enough to get penalty points on this stretch of motorway, and it’s very clearly indicated that it’s an average-speed zone, then you deserve to be fined and get penalty points.
@Hugh Fogerty: you don’t have much faith in the intelligence levels of Irish motorists do you? Only way this will generate money is if people speed.
@Hugh Fogerty: why would you need to go any faster than the speed limit? Standard of driving in this country is appalling.
@Edward Reid: vast majority of motorways in Europe are 130km/h… 120 would be low compared
@Hugh Fogerty: only the BMW and Mercedes drivers need worry.
@Hugh Fogerty: Quite a lot actually it is a spot that, quite a lot of rain water stays on because it was built on a bog and has been a lot of accidents with aquaplaning.
@Paul Furey: You can add Audi to that list as well.
@Brendan Nolan: quite a lot is an interesting quantum, not sure if I said not very much would that be as big a number? Without actual figures it’s all conjecture. I’ve never seen an accident on that stretch of road.
@Brendan Nolan: so what you are saying is that stretch of road was badly engineered?
@Saigionsive: taxation is theft when it’s not used for what it was intended.
@Hugh Fogerty: every day there are accidents on these roads. I don’t think speed is the problem though so this figure won’t change.
If compliance was below 70% on a road, would one not think to assess if the 120kph limit was still correct? Maybe that was a sign 130kph or higher would be suited.
* fixed comment – give me edit!
@Richard: I’m not sure. If you give more people end up taking more. They would push to 140/150 if the legal limit was 130. I think the majority of people stick to 120 as it is, only some people think they should be allowed to do as they wish whether or not it puts anyone else in danger or not. I’m all for each to their own but if you cause an accident just because your a macho man showing of or whatever the reason and it killed my family or kids it changes the situation. Slow down, enough families have suffered already.
@Richard: We need to start reducing speed limits.
Fuel consumption at 130 km/HR would be much higher than say 100km/HR..
Electric cars are not suited to high speed as they have huge battery consumption above 100 km/ HR.
@Roger Bond: that should be a person own personal choice and use of money to spend it burning fuel or reducing their electric range. 130km in most European countries as the norm on motorways
@Richard: What’s the point? Driving at 130kph instead of 120 saves you about 24 seconds on a 10km journey. Are we really in that much of a hurry that it’s worth the increased danger and fuel consumption? If we say Limerick to Dublin is about 200km which is a long journey in Ireland, that’s just 8 mins knocked off the entire journey! And that’s assuming a direct motorway with no slow-downs or stops. Each increase above that gives you less and less saving on time.
@Roger Bond: that’s why you should not buy toy cars.
Another nanny state intervention. “if you get to the next camera too quickly you will be flagged on our server.” How about people just follow the safety rules? Seems that the government has taken over the church for “rule following” and being forced into submission.
How about free will, trusting people to do the right thing and give them a ticket if they are caught speeding by a Garda officer?
@Seeking Truth: its more simple than this tbh.
It was simply put in to make money.
None of them gives a flying f… about people.
@John Johnes: Seems to be a way to let people decide if they want to throw money away. The average speed zone will be well flagged on approach.
@Seeking Truth: the issue with that is that not every person speeding is caught by a speed camera van, as there simply aren’t enough of them in place at each location. I think this new system will be a positive one in that it still gives people the option to speed, or not, while guaranteeing that they are caught if they do. Their choice, with consequences for the wrong one.
@Seeking Truth: so if you think this is a nanny state should we drop health and safety in the workplace and let the ordinary worker set the the standards or have none and more deaths. Should we not have regulations for electrical devices and import potential fire hazards from every country in a race to the bottom.
@Seeking Truth: Because, left to their own ‘free will’, a lot of people behave badly.
@Seeking Truth: we’ll they have being allowing people the choice till this morning, the result has been 6 deaths and 54 serious accidents on this particular stretch of road so if given some people haven’t kept to the speed limit they have opted to enforce the speed limit. I don’t understand the issue here, what is the issue with keeping to the 120 limit? Are you so important and or in such a rush that speed limits don’t apply to you?
@Peter: is that in the past week? That’s quite a lot tbf.
Do you have a source for those numbers? We’re they in dry conditions or other conditions?
Personally I think the speed limit should be variable, higher in dry weather and low traffic volumes, lower in bad weather and or high traffic volumes. We have regional roads that used to be safe for 60mph with older less safe cars yet we are now told we have to drive 80kph on them now. Its not about safety it’s about revenue generation.
As cars are being made safer and faster we’re lowering limits, doesn’t make sense, speed limit should be raised to 140 on major motorways in the right hand lane anyway
@pkunzip doom2.zip: at 110 KPH versus 120 KPH I get an extra 10% more kilometers from my tank of diesel. That saves around 11.00 euro per fill.
@pkunzip doom2.zip: if I set my speed limiter to 110 KPH versus 120 KPH I get an extra 10% distance. At current diesel prices that is a saving of €11.00 per fill.
@Rudy de Groot: that’s great for you, well done. When I drive my leaf at 115km I get 250km from a €6.40 charge but when I want to overtake some dckhead in a leaf doing 115km and I’m in my Golf I don’t want to 3 points for driving safely, well within the car and drivers capabilities
@Rudy de Groot: you’d get even more out of your tank if you drove at 80kph
@Anthony Guinnessy: not everyone is concerned about their mileage as you seem to be, if you drive at 80km/h on a motorway you deserve a fine for dangerous driving
Can these camera be used to catch drivers that do not Indicate when overtaking and undertaking ??
@lorcmulv: the answer is in their name!
@lorcmulv: and the roundabouts. In a normal world – whoever does not use their indicators are being fined.
If compliance was below 70% on a road, would one. It think you assess if the 120kph limit was still correct? Maybe that was a sign 130kph or higher would be suited.
just as well my old van wont go over 120km
It’s about time these got rolled out, they need to be put on every stretch of motorway in the country along with variable speed limits. Both have been proven to work for reducing accidents and deaths and traffic flow. If people are driving as per the rules of the road then they have nothing to worry about. For those saying it’s a money making racket I would say they are the very people that are being targeted, not to make money from them but to change the way they drive so they are complying with the posted speed limits.
@Peter: why then are most motorway speed limits higher in Europe? Ever heard of the auto bahn? “Measurements from the German state of Brandenburg in 2006 showed average speeds of 142 km/h (88 mph) on a 6-lane section of autobahn in free-flowing conditions.[3]”
^^ thats a proper road network and just as safe as ours.
I find if I put my speed limiter to 110 KPH I get an extra 10% from my tank of diesel. Considering the cost of fuel it makes sense to reduce speed and save money (and be kinder to the environment too)
@Rudy de Groot: I’d say you’ll find if you put your speed limiter to 80kph you’ll save even more. What’s your point?
Have we invested anything in preventing drivers from travelling in the wrong direction on this motorway?
Ireland catching up with the rest of Europe.
@FliepFlap: Ireland falling further behind the rest of Europe. Safer cars, better roads should mean higher speed limits.
Drove it this morning, main issue was drivers in the overtaking lane doing 120, makes it difficult when you come up behind a slow vehicle and cant pass for the queue of cars cruising in the overtaking lane.
Then once past the second camera off they are like rockets…
If there was a bit of dirt causing the number plate reader to record an 8 or 9 out of a 3 or perhaps a 7 out of a 1 there will be no actual photo of the car showing the make, model and colour of the vehicle so you could not dispute the alleged offence. Normally you are innocent until proven guilty. With this system you are guilty…full stop.
Good grief, the amount of whinging here on this Monday morning. Don’t speed! I do a lot of motorway driving and get over 200km extra on a full tank by driving 95-100kmh on the motorways. It means an extra 10 to 15 mins on a drive from Dublin to Kilkenny but its worth it.
@Paul Furey: no its not, an extra 16 minutes a day each way would be 24hrs extra a year (conservatively). That’s 3 working days you’re giving up per year. Over a lifetime you are losing 147 working days.
@Anthony Guinnessy: what a waste of sums. Leave earlier.
We know where they are hit cruise control at 118 kmph then away u go
@James Johnson: all cars are 4-5km overstated so 124 and you’d be doing 120
Be warned if passing these at night they shine a light across the motorway that’s absolutely blinding
Years and years behind…
It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s too little too late considering these have been around for years in other countries. Motorways are built for speed. How many deaths actually occur on them? Meanwhile the technology exists to measure your speed wherever you go! Most runners have watches that give all sorts of statistics about your run. Put one of these on every car that reports safe driving back to a central server. Compliant people get a discount on their car insurance. The discount is paid for by the reduction in claims this will no doubt bring about. If you frame it as a bonus for being safe rather than a fine for speeding you’ll get much better buy-in.
What about teleportation.?
Why must everyone else slow down just because of a minority of people who can’t drive properly?
I’m sure they’ll be really useful on the M50.
What happens if you drive too slow, surely the concertina effect is equally the same as too fast but slightly more dangerous e.g overtaking.
have your say