The Government's decision to resettle some 300 refugees from the conflict in Syria involves political risk and perhaps cost, as today's Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll underlines. The obligation to do so is partly a moral, humanitarian imperative, a generous response to the misery of victims of war driven from their homes into exile, and partly one arising from a political commitment to sharing some of the burden of mass migration – 20,000 out of hundreds of thousands – with fellow EU member states. It is clearly less likely that those who most strongly see the refugees as an economic imposition that may affect them directly will be as understanding or sympathetic to the latter imperative.
The poll suggests the country is pretty evenly split between those who favour opening our doors to these refugees – 48 per cent – to those opposed – 52 per cent. Dublin and Connacht/Ulster have small majorities in favour, while middle class communities are significantly more sympathetic (among professionals, managers, and upper middle class people support for resettlement runs at two to one). And such class differences are reflected among party supporters – Fine Gael and Labour show significant positive support (61 and 56 per cent respectively) while Sinn Féin supporters are most strikingly resistant (70 per cent against).
Of those who support resettlement four in 10 (38 per cent) believe Ireland should take in between 100 and 1,000 refugees, while a fifth of the wealthiest are willing to see more than a 1,000 come in. The contrast between Labour and Sinn Féin supporters of resettlement on taking in between 100 and 1,000 is the most dramatic (Labour – 45 per cent in favour, SF – 32 per cent).
The poll suggests the Government is not substantially out of step with the majority of its support base on either the decision in principle to accept refugees, or in terms of the numbers involved. But this is clearly dangerous ground, and it will take comfort from the continued absence here of the sort of anti-immigrant party that has poisoned the politics of many European states.