Demolishing myth of replacement migration

INTEGRATION Minister Conor Lenihan recently introduced a new twist to the immigration debate.

For the first time a minister put forward the myth of ‘replacement migration’ in relation to Ireland, ie, we are not having enough children to sustain our population and so we must bring in immigrants.

This is a myth that was demolished by Anthony Browne in his book, Do We Need Mass Immigration?

He said replacement migration was one of the most widespread and comforting self-delusions since humanity believed the sun went around the earth.

It is refuted by elementary demographics: immigrants are no fix for an ageing society because they age, too.

One must hope the Government is not represented in this by Mr Lenihan who, since being appointed integration minister, has put a strange emphasis on further immigration — which is not his brief — alongside the integration of existing immigrants, which is.

Áine Ní Chonaill

PRO

Immigration Control

Platform

PO Box 6469

Dublin 2