Midlands-North-West European election candidate Peter Casey is calling for the Irish army to be deployed to help resolve the refugee crisis before it spirals further out of control.

“A recent poll has revealed that 74% of people believe Ireland is a soft touch on immigration and they want a tougher approach. I have the perfect and most practical solution as we face an estimated 20,000 more illegal immigrants arriving here by the end of the year,” Peter Casey said.

“It is obvious that the Garda Síochána are unable to put out this fire on their own. It seems to me that the only way to send a tough message to the rest of the world that we won’t tolerate bogus asylum seekers is by deploying the army on the Irish border to prevent any illegal crossings, as is being done in other countries.”

The former Dragons’ Den panelist pointed out that the Irish Defence Forces have been called on to help the Gardaí in the fight against crime as recently as 2023.

“The Garda Síochána were assisted by the Irish Defence Forces when raiding homes and making arrests as part of an investigation into organised crime in Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary, targeting 67 properties and making several arrests in 2023,” Peter Casey said.

“It is only common sense for the Minister for Justice and Minister for Defence to work out an arrangement to protect our borders. If someone broke into your home, you would not offer them a tent and suggest they set up camp in your back garden – but that is exactly what is happening here with the ongoing tent crisis on the Grand Canal.

“The real reason we have waves of undocumented men coming into the country is because Ireland is not a sovereign state anymore. It takes its orders from Brussels.”

The Irish businessman is also calling for illegal immigrants to have their cases processed much quicker.

He explained, “It should not take months or weeks for these applications to go through the system, but rather days. People seeking asylum need to have their cases ruled on quickly and humanely, but those who are refused need to be immediately deported.”

The independent candidate now fears tents will mushroom across the entire Midlands-North-West region without immediate action.

He said, “During the summer and autumn, there is going to be a tsunami of asylum seekers in the Midlands-North-West as a result of the recent Belfast High Court decision not to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda.

“These illegal immigrants will be leaving mainland Britain in large numbers to go to Northern Ireland and then head south. The illegal migrants will realise the beaches are nicer than canals – meaning the Dublin tent crisis will soon be in Midlands-North-West.”

In a statement addressing his proposals, Peter Casey emphasised that his decisions and demands are rooted in his desire to secure the best outcomes for the people of Ireland. He asserted, “Every stance I take, every call I make, is driven by a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the interests and well-being of the Irish people. Our nation deserves pragmatic solutions to the challenges we face, and I firmly believe that my proposals reflect this unwavering dedication to our country’s prosperity and security.”

The Irish businessman also made a point of adding that “Ireland is crying out for skilled labor.”

He concluded, “We have a shortage of skilled labor such as nurses and doctors. The more medical professionals we can attract, the more it would help ease the crisis in our health system. We need more tradesmen. Our children are leaving because they do not see a future in Ireland. We need people who will put their shoulder to the wheel.

“If I am elected in the upcoming election, I will propose such common-sense approaches to the European Parliament.

“The Midlands-North-West constituency needs a true independent voice in Brussels to ensure Ireland doesn’t remain a soft touch in this ongoing refugee crisis, which is an all-Ireland problem.

“As a strong independent voice, I am asking for your number one vote on Friday, June 7. I will make a difference if elected in the Midlands-North-West constituency in June.”