200 protest outside Roma family's house in Waterford.

[annabel taylor]

I'm indifferent to the so called Roma community. I see them around begging and sometimes being a mild annoyance when your trying to remember your pin at ATM machines!!
I tend to just say "Sorry I have no change and they politely move on" and I have never felt intimidated by them.
And they're not the only ethnic minority or race to beg for money. I've meet a few Irish ones in my time and I can smell where they spent their few quid!!

Btw I always assumed that Romas were from Romania so thanks to Lucy and Annabel for curing me of my ignorance regarding this topic, but it doesn't effect my stance with them.

I'm more concerned about this mob mentality that people think is acceptable in this day and age. Where are we... Gotham!!#

It's a pity that the people that found the time energy and resources to organise a Mob, that they couldn't have picked a real target like a crime lord.
Maybe the easy target was a safer option!!

Incidentally the one time I have being mugged and robbed, the youths looked a lot like some of the hoodied youths seen at the protest!!

I have said it before and I will say it again, it's dangerous to generalise.

Why should we import these people? Do they contribute to our society?

I'd really love to see an Australian type border control here, if your skilled and support yourself in you come,

If you income is based on selling big issue and begging, leave that for homegrown lot, we have issue why import more?

And honestly the pc brigade need to stop this what drive people insane this kid glove policing if there not Irish,

Why should communitys out up with begging. Slums if there not there own, lets sort our own issues instead of letting those who cause trouble and burden to our state,

[warmcome]

Why should we import these people? Do they contribute to our society?

I'd really love to see an Australian type border control here, if your skilled and support yourself in you come,

If you income is based on selling big issue and begging, leave that for homegrown lot, we have issue why import more?

And honestly the pc brigade need to stop this what drive people insane this kid glove policing if there not Irish,

Why should communitys out up with begging. Slums if there not there own, lets sort our own issues instead of letting those who cause trouble and burden to our state,

i see those programs with some Chinese older lady pinned to the floor cos she brought some tea with her?
look what Australia has done to the indigenous Aborigine? there was no border control when Britain dumped
it's criminal out there. the irony of it.

[annabel taylor]

i see those programs with some Chinese older lady pinned to the floor cos she brought some tea with her?
look what Australia has done to the indigenous Aborigine? there was no border control when Britain dumped
it's criminal out there. the irony of it.

Tell me how many Roma friends do you have or know? How many work in actual jobs?

Australia is doing the correct thing protecting its borders.. and I watch border control I've never seen an old lady pinned to floor over tea... I do see a country that's progressive and puts its citizen first, plus its a programe aimed to entertain like
Ive been thru Australian border control there pretty sound and go to line I've something to declare ur out way faster
Dragging up the aboriginal to discredit there border efforts is pointless

Fact is the Aussie system works, if want to make money there you can, but U will not beg U will not live of a state and U wont be building shanty towns,

Shanty towns are a hazard anyway fires sanitation to begin with.

[warmcome]

to me, Roma and Irish are one, blood brothers (just like Patrick Ward scene in Hate/love)

[Best Before]

Why should we import these people? Do they contribute to our society?

I'd really love to see an Australian type border control here, if your skilled and support yourself in you come,

If you income is based on selling big issue and begging, leave that for homegrown lot, we have issue why import more?

And honestly the pc brigade need to stop this what drive people insane this kid glove policing if there not Irish,

Why should communitys out up with begging. Slums if there not there own, lets sort our own issues instead of letting those who cause trouble and burden to our state,

Import makes it sound like we're purchasing them!!

But I would agree with the notion that we need a stronger border control. But this would only work if it was an All Ireland Solution. So close working work with the northern Ireland Parliament would be necessary.

So the big issue (pardon the pun!) here is not the Romas themselves per say but the system that supports them!!
And it's not just the Goverment policy at fault here, we have all played our part here.
Begging is a business like any other, and it based on the principle supply and demand.
You take away the supply i.e. Loose change. And the begging will diminish and eventually stop.
I think it's our Irish good nature that has us in this mess in the first place. I once offered some guy who was begging to buy him a meal and coffee going back about 15 years now. He laughed at the notion.
It made me think about giving away loose change to people willy-nilly from there on. I usually will give any free change to any reputable charities that approach me on the streets, and the list of those is getting smaller every week. But that's a discussion for another day!!

[SteveB]

Import makes it sound like we're purchasing them!!

But I would agree with the notion that we need a stronger border control. But this would only work if it was an All Ireland Solution. So close working work with the northern Ireland Parliament would be necessary.

So the big issue (pardon the pun!) here is not the Romas themselves per say but the system that supports them!!
And it's not just the Goverment policy at fault here, we have all played our part here.
Begging is a business like any other, and it based on the principle supply and demand.
You take away the supply i.e. Loose change. And the begging will diminish and eventually stop.
I think it's our Irish good nature that has us in this mess in the first place. I once offered some guy who was begging to buy him a meal and coffee going back about 15 years now. He laughed at the notion.
It made me think about giving away loose change to people willy-nilly from there on. I usually will give any free change to any reputable charities that approach me on the streets, and the list of those is getting smaller every week. But that's a discussion for another day!!

All European solution.
It won't happen. Free movement is a founding principle of the Treaty of Rome.

[annabel taylor]

to me, Roma and Irish are one, blood brothers (just like Patrick Ward scene in Hate/love)

You neglected to answer the question of how many you know and what percentage are in jobs beside begging big issue etc

[Best Before]

All European solution.
It won't happen. Free movement is a founding principle of the Treaty of Rome.

Then we just make our country less attractive to sponge off!! That can be tackled a micro level starting with you and me.

[Lucy Chambers]

Lucy, I get accused here of being too precise (which leads to accusations of being condescending) but I am precise in my choice of words so that there can be no doubt as to my meaning. So, you either didn't read what I said correctly or your position on this topic is blinding you?

This is what I actually said in relation to migrant escorts:




I on the other hand have been the most supportive of migrant escorts, in both words and action, and it would be nice of you to withdraw your above comment.

Didn't read it properly sorry Bluefan. Now I have all I can say is stop being so down on the people of Waterford, they are being accused of all types of sin but if you actually look at the facebook page this has all stemmed from it was set up in protest to all types of street crime and begging, from all nationalities. It's just unfortunate that nearly every report has been about a certain family of Roma. Everyone needs to get off the racist bandwagon and take a good look at the facts.

[Rachel Divine]

I'm sure you meant to say "Romas" Rachel. We don't want you to incur the full wrath of the PC brigade

Let me think about it and I will get back to you.