Leo Varadkar says immigration to Ireland grew 'too fast' as he visits US
Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the level of immigration to Ireland has been too high in recent years.
During a visit to the US last week, Mr Varadkar spoke to University of Notre Dame’s college newspaper The Observer, ahead of holding a public discussion at the university’s centre for international studies.
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He said migration benefited the economy and warned against the rise of populism and prejudice against migrants, but said the level of immigration to Ireland is increasing too quickly.
"The majority of people think that the numbers have been too high in recent years, and they’re right,” he said.
"A country of five million people seeing its population rise by 2pc a year, which is what’s happening at the moment, is too fast.”
Mr Varadkar’s comment came as Taoiseach Simon Harris drew criticism for linking the level of homelessness with the rate of immigration in an interview with The Sunday Times.
Mr Harris said: “People understand the fact that homelessness numbers are heavily impacted by the fact we are seeing many people seek protection in our country, seek asylum in our country and many people come from abroad hoping to have a new future in Ireland and immigration, it has many, many pluses, but it has had a challenge there.”
Those comments have been criticised by members of the opposition, including People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who called them “a shameless dog whistle” and Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon who said the Taoiseach was trying to "scapegoat international protection applicants".
Asked by The Observer about the success of Fine Gael following his resignation six months ago, Mr Varadkar credited Mr Harris for leading the party to a strong position in the opinion polls.
"[It] was really a political calculation that my party had a better chance of doing better with a new leader,” he said.
"Because people who had maybe gotten sick of us or sick of me, would look at the party again and would consider us again. And that seems to be working and working well, really in large part, because of the energy and enthusiasm of the new Taoiseach Simon Harris.”
He added to the pressure being put on Mr Harris to call a general election and said it should be called “sooner rather than later” to give the Government its best chance at being re-elected. Mr Varadkar also said the Taoiseach shouldn’t let the opinion polls go to his head.
