Mick Clifford: Let's talk about immigration — but let's do it using facts

There are challenges with the international protection system. However, people with warped agendas are not truly interested in discussing immigration properly, writes Mick Clifford

 Rioters in Tallaght in the wake of an alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.

We need to talk about immigration. So goes the refrain in the wake of a shocking incident outside an IPAS centre in west Dublin. A 26-year-old man, who was refused an international protection application, has been charged with the sexual assault of a 10-year-old. The victim had been in care and absconded last weekend. The alleged incident occurred on Sunday night in the vicinity of the Citywest complex in Saggart.

For some people this incident of human trauma was treated as a major opportunity. It provided the perfect platform to disseminate their favourite conspiracy theories and lies on social media, to suggest the country is falling apart.