Debate contribution: Illegal Immigration: Impact in Northern Ireland

Debate contribution by Miss Deirdre Hargey on 20 May 2025.

MLA

Miss Deirdre Hargey

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

20 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Illegal Immigration: Impact in Northern Ireland

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4964243

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Sinn Féin's position on migration is informed by our republican values and principles of equality, economic and social justice, anti-racism and anti-colonialism. It is informed by our history. Across the world, people are being forced from their country by war, famine, the escalating climate crisis and persistent inequality. Almost uniquely for a developed Western country, we in Ireland understand, from our experience, the human, economic and societal impact of immigration on the countries from which people are fleeing. Developed countries, including Ireland and Britain, can and must do more to address the causes forcing people to flee and migrate. Of course, there need to be systems in place to manage immigration, and, of course, there are immediate and obvious pressures on our public services, such as access to health and social care. Let me be very clear, however, that that is caused by a sustained lack of investment, which is a reality that we discuss at every sitting of the Assembly. Over a decade and a half of austerity and cuts by consecutive British Governments have been hugely damaging to public services: our health service, housing, education, youth services, skills and employment support. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous and dangerously misleading. There is no acknowledgement in the DUP motion of the important role that people from outside these islands play in our health and social care service, agri-food sector and the wider economy. I find that particularly disturbing. Our health and social care service is highly dependent on the commitment and expertise of so many people who have travelled here to contribute positively to our community, yet we have not heard anything from the DUP about that. Be they a nurse, a doctor or a carer, I acknowledge and thank those people for the contribution that they make to our society, whether in healthcare or other aspects of our community.

Sinn Féin wants to see an immigration system that works well, where the rules are applied, fairness is paramount and people — all the people — in our communities are treated with dignity and respect.

As this is an island that has two separate immigration systems, robust bilateral arrangements between the Irish and British Governments are, of course, necessary to ensure the free movement of citizens across the land border and, simultaneously, manage the immigration systems. A functioning and fair immigration system needs to ensure that those who are deemed to be in need of international protection are granted asylum in a timely manner. When someone is deemed not to be entitled to international protection, they should be returned to their country of origin safely and, importantly, with dignity. It is important that those who are granted asylum are integrated into our communities and into Irish society, no matter which part of the island they find themselves in. People should be able to contribute to the place that has given them refuge. We already see that contribution every day across our communities. I know the benefits of that, and I see the incredible role that people from other places play in my constituency of South Belfast, whether that is in local hospitality, healthcare in the community, our hospitals, research and innovation in our universities, our culture and arts offering, many sports teams and clubs, crèches and, indeed, local shops. Those people are part of the community and work on its behalf. Unfortunately, racism is an ugly reality in sections of our society. Last week, a man who was on his way home from work in south Belfast was physically attacked by a large group close to the City Hospital. The attack must have been deeply traumatising. Last summer, we also witnessed local businesses that provide services to the community being burnt to the ground, with their staff being attacked and threatened. Like every example of racism, those attacks are unacceptable and must be called out. Such attacks often happen when dehumanising and emotive language is used. I appeal to all Members who address the motion to be mature, measured and cautious about the arguments that they deploy and the misinformation that can be used: your words have real consequences for people in the community. Instead of impersonating a pound-shop Enoch Powell, Sinn Féin will support the amendment.

707 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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