Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow-Wexford, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, has strongly criticized the government for what he described as “hypocrisy” over its handling of Irish emigrants returning home.
His comments come in response to the government’s decision to spend nearly half a million euro on an advertising campaign inviting Irish emigrants to come back to Ireland—while simultaneously erecting significant barriers that make it nearly impossible for many to return.
Ó Súilleabháin argued that while the government claims to welcome emigrants back to fill gaps in the labor market, its policies are effectively preventing them from coming home.
“The cost of living has become unbearable for so many young people, who are being forced to leave the country because they simply can’t afford to live here. At the same time, returning emigrants are faced with layers of bureaucracy, a lack of housing and no support for reintegration,” he said.
In his statement, Ó Súilleabháin pointed out the absurdity of the situation, stating that the government is spending hundreds of thousands on a public relations stunt instead of addressing the real issues at hand. He called for a renewed focus on the housing crisis, cost of living and the barriers faced by returning Irish citizens, which range from the recognition of foreign qualifications to difficulties obtaining visas for non-Irish spouses.
Ó Súilleabháin believes that these issues require urgent action, urging the establishment of a cross-party Oireachtas committee specifically focused on the needs of returning Irish citizens. He stated, “The government needs to take real action. An expensive advertising campaign is not enough to address the very real barriers that Irish citizens face when trying to come home.”
