A Dublin city councillor has declared that Ireland is “full” during an anti-immigration rally held in the capital. Councillor Gavin Pepper, representing the Ballymun-Finglas area, addressed a crowd gathered outside the General Post Office (GPO) on Saturday, stating that the nation has reached its capacity.

Anti-Immigration Rally Highlights Concerns

The event, advertised as the National Rally for Ireland, saw a significant turnout. Attendees marched from the Garden of Remembrance, led by a lone piper, carrying placards with slogans such as “No to EU Migration Pact,” “Irish Lives Matter,” and “Save the nation! Remigration!” The procession concluded on O’Connell Street at the GPO, where speakers voiced their concerns about immigration and government policy.

Councillor Pepper was among the speakers, directly addressing the crowd with the assertion that “our country is full.” He also directed criticism towards TD Jim O’Callaghan, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. This criticism followed the minister’s confirmation that a charter operation had facilitated the deportation of 42 individuals to South Africa at a reported cost of €735,000.

“We have enough sex offenders and drug dealers and criminals in Ireland — we don’t need any from the Third World,” Councillor Pepper stated, addressing the deportations. He specifically mentioned the recent flight, saying, “Jim O’Callaghan, the other week you sent home a 747 with 42 people on it. They’re rookie numbers, you need to get the numbers up and deport the whole lot of them.”

Official Figures on Asylum Applications and Immigration

In contrast to the sentiments expressed at the rally, recent data indicates a decline in asylum applications. Minister O’Callaghan previously informed the Dáil that asylum applications received in 2025 numbered 13,146, representing a one-third decrease from the 18,553 applications recorded the previous year. The figure for 2025 is noted as the lowest in the past four years, though it remains substantially higher than the 2,647 applications received in 2021.

Further statistics released in August provide a broader picture of immigration trends. In the twelve months leading up to April 2025, Ireland saw approximately 125,300 immigrants. This figure marks a 16 percent reduction compared to the same period in 2024. The immigrant demographic included 31,500 returning Irish citizens, 25,300 citizens from other EU countries, and 4,900 British citizens. The remaining 63,600 individuals were from countries outside the EU and Britain.

Emigration from Ireland also saw a decrease year-on-year. Consequently, the net migration figure for the year ending April 2025 was positive at 59,700, down from 79,300 in the preceding year. These figures suggest a cooling, rather than an acceleration, of overall immigration to the country.

‘We Will Look After Our People’

Another independent Dublin City Councillor, Malachy Steenson, also addressed the rally, echoing sentiments of prioritizing the existing population. He accused the current government of failing to support “the people that built this country.”

Councillor Steenson outlined a vision for the nation focused on its current residents. “We will ensure that if you go out to work that you get the benefit of that work, that you have a low-tax economy with good services,” he stated. He elaborated on the potential benefits, envisioning a healthcare system where timely treatment is available, rather than facing lengthy waits.

“So, when you go to hospital, you’ll be treated when you need to be treated, not in four or five years,” he said. “When your children take sick that they will get a world-class hospital and world-class treatment when they need it, not when we build a hospital that takes 20 years and billions to do.”

His vision extended to infrastructure and housing, promising “good quality roads” and “good quality housing.” He concluded his remarks by reiterating the core message: “We will look after our people — the people that have been in this country for generations, the people that built this country.”

Context of Public Sentiment

The rally and the statements made by councillors Pepper and Steenson reflect a growing public discourse and concern regarding immigration levels and their perceived impact on national resources and infrastructure. While official figures suggest a recent decrease in asylum applications and overall immigration, the sentiment expressed at the rally indicates a segment of the population feels the country’s capacity has been exceeded. The contrasting viewpoints highlight the complex and often polarized nature of the immigration debate in Ireland, with calls for stricter border controls and repatriation juxtaposed against data showing declining application rates and a positive net migration figure.