John Gibbons: A big freeze could turn the Irish into climate refugees

We should reflect on 'get-tough' proposals on immigration: If the Amoc currents that moderate Ireland’s climate fail, temperatures will plunge, making grass-based agriculture impossible

Ironically, global warming could cause temperatures to collapse in Ireland: The 'cold blob' due to the accelerating Greenland Ice Sheet melt could shut down the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc), of which the Gulf Stream is a component. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty

The Irish Refugee Council this week described government plans to place new obstacles in the path of refugees seeking permanent asylum in Ireland as “deeply alarming”. 

These moves, flagged by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan are in the wake of the UK’s newly-announced crackdown on asylum applications.