The Price of Welcome: Is the EU Migration Pact Worth It? Episode 386

In this episode, Niall is asking: Is the EU Migration Pact worth it, or are we sacrificing too much to uphold it? With mounting pressure across Europe and at home, Niall and guest Nick Delehanty explore whether Ireland is doing enough—or too much—to respond to the growing immigration crisis.

The conversation centres around the financial and social cost of the EU’s proposed migration reforms. Are Irish people being pushed to the back of the queue? Has the government lost touch with the real pressures facing local communities?

Some callers feel they are sick to the stomach listening to government ministers talk about how we “must do our part” while Irish families are stuck living in hotels or on waiting lists for years. To them, everything now seems focused on migrants—housing, welfare, public services—while ordinary Irish people are left behind.

Others pointed out how schools are overcrowded, hospitals are under pressure, and housing is in crisis—yet the government seems to find endless resources when it comes to supporting new arrivals. Callers questioned the transparency behind the EU pact, and many said if you raise concerns, you’re immediately labelled a racist.

They say local communities are being upended without consultation, and there’s a growing feeling that the state is more invested in maintaining good standing with Brussels than looking after its own people.

Niall acknowledges how passionate and frustrated many of the callers were, reflecting the growing divide in public opinion. While some see the EU Migration Pact as a moral obligation, others see it as an unsustainable burden. Niall highlights the need for open dialogue, government transparency, and putting Irish citizens’ concerns front and centre.