East candidate seeks block on immigrants
BRIAN KAVANAGH
The Irish Times
Friday, May 15, 2009
LIBERTAS CANDIDATE for Ireland East Raymond OMalley has called for Ireland to close its borders to workers from fellow EU states.
Speaking on Today FMs Last Word show with Matt Cooper, Mr OMalley said: I think a lot of people are very concerned too about the problem of immigration.
While weve massive unemployment in this country, over the last five years weve had 500,000 people come in to this country and there has been a funnel effect.
Ireland was one of only three EU countries that allowed the accession states to have free access to our labour market, possibly people dont realise that.
Pressed on whether he believed that it was wrong to open borders and allow free movement of labour, Mr OMalley replied: It was grand then but the problem is were now in a situation where weve massive unemployment, its getting worse and its unfair to immigrants and its unfair to Irish people.The former deputy president of the Irish Farmers Association added: Youve got to stop the tide coming.
When asked whether it was now Libertas policy to prevent any more workers from the 10 accession states from entering, Mr OMalley answered: Well I think as long as we have this rate of unemployment, yes.
In a statement last night, Mr OMalley reaffirmed his stance, saying We need a strong voice in Europe to articulate peoples concerns on these issues, which is why I raised them on air this evening.
The policy of the political establishment of ignoring this issue, which is of great concern to ordinary people, must change.
