Ireland Says No

Racism doesn’t just harm those it targets: it divides communities, fuels fear, and distracts from the real issues we face together. It wastes talent, blocks opportunities, and drives away people who could enrich our culture and economy. Ireland thrives when everyone has the chance to contribute. When we allow racism to spread, we all lose.

Report incidents of racism to the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR).

NO to racism, hate, and violence

MYTH: “Ireland is full.”
FACT: Ireland’s population density is among the lowest in Western Europe, with large rural areas facing depopulation. Migrants contribute to filling essential jobs, supporting local economies, and sustaining schools and services in towns that might otherwise decline. Housing shortages are due to policy and supply issues, not the number of people living here.

MYTH: “Immigrants cause more crime.”
FACT: Crime data shows no evidence that immigrants commit more crime than Irish citizens. In many areas, crime rates have stayed the same or fallen as migrant populations have grown. Blaming immigration for crime distracts from real solutions like better community resources and policing. [Source]

MYTH: “Migrants get free houses while Irish people wait.”
FACT: Social housing in Ireland is allocated based on need, not nationality. Migrants and Irish citizens apply through the same process, meet the same eligibility rules, and wait on the same lists. The real cause of the housing crisis is decades of under-building, rising rents, and speculative investment, not migration.

NO to misinformation

To learn more about misinformation, read UNICEFs Quick Guide to Spotting Misinformation.

NO to forgetting our history

Over 1 million Irish people emigrated during the Great Famine. Throughout history, Irish people relied on emigration to escape poverty, famine, and conflict. We relied on the kindness of other countries to survive and build new lives. If we deny others the same compassion and opportunity that once sustained our families, we are erasing our history.

Visit the Irish Refugee Council website to learn more about supporting refugees in Ireland. 

NO to groups promoting division

Some groups in Ireland present themselves as “concerned citizens,” but use fear, misinformation, and scapegoating to turn communities against migrants and minorities. Many borrow tactics and talking points from international extremist movements, and some receive funding, training, or online amplification from abroad. Their aim is not to solve local problems, but to divide communities and push a narrow, harmful agenda.

What do you think?

Have we left something out? Do you agree or disagree with these points?

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