Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar wants to give unemployed immigrants a lump sum if they agree to leave the country.
Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne was delighted to pounce on the idea, from a member of the same party that last week called for ‘segregation‘ in schools, denouncing it as a policy ‘in the dishonourable tradition of the British National Party. They are the only other party supporting voluntary repatriation.’
Fás director general Rody Molloy – no doubt delighted that the TD has said something that would distract attention from the organisation’s audit woes for a while – pointed out that EU nationals in Ireland were entitled to ‘exactly the same rights’ as locals.
Rody Molloy has it right. And so, I would like to volunteer to take a lump sum to leave the country for a few years. I hear that Malta is nice this time of year, and I’m sure Mr Varadkar will be delighted to hear that I’m willing to do my bit to keep costs down – Ryanair go there three times weekly from Dublin.
But before I wave farewell to the Emerald Isle, can anyone tell me why wikipedia says Varadkar’s name in Irish is Leó Mac Giolla Cráic?