In a heavily mediatised operation last week, a migrant camp in the heart of Dublin was taken down, and most of its inhabitants housed in hotels. This happened in the context of intensifying anti-immigration protests – whether it is in terms of violence or method, with several being held in front of politicians’ houses, including the Taoiseach’s (PM).

What may seem like a common topic in other European countries is still very new to Ireland. Anti-immigration protests only became a noticeable movement in November 2022, as the Irish government was struggling to find accommodation for asylum seekers in the midst of the influx of Ukrainian refugees. According to the Eurobarometer survey, Ireland is the third country with the highest share of voters who consider migration and asylum should be given priority in the European election campaign, ahead of countries like Germany and France.