Irish majority want immigration curbed

A majority of Irish people want tougher controls on immigration at a time of increasing economic hardship, a poll showed yesterday.

Ireland faces its first recession in 25 years as the end of a decade-long property driven boom and a slowing global economy maul the former "Celtic Tiger".

Years of rapid economic growth have helped to fuel record levels of immigration to Ireland, reversing the long-established pattern of people leaving Ireland to find work overseas.

However, increase in unemployment has raised fears of tensions towards immigrants and from 1,000 people polled by independent consultancy Amarach Research, 66 per cent said they wanted more restrictive immigration.