In Ireland, at least four new political parties critical of the government's immigration policy are contesting the upcoming European elections.

They say they are not against immigration, but believe the Irish government has taken too liberal a stance on the issue.

The country has a population of 5 million, of whom about a million have entered the country since the mid-1990s.

according to Andy HeismanA member of the Irish People's Party said, “_The anger is not at the foreign nationals. There is anger at the policies being imposed on the Irish people. We have always been a welcoming country and we always will be.__ But now that we have people coming in the anger is not at these foreign nationals, _.It is against the government and it can be seen.”

In a recent opinion poll for Irish Daily Mail, two-thirds of those surveyed believe the government is out of control on the immigration crisis. The majority of Irish people believe that the government's policy is opening the door to immigrants and causing problems in other areas of Irish society.

Niall Boylan The leader of the Independent Ireland Party says, “He campaigned in every neighbourhood. Working-class neighbourhoods, middle-class neighbourhoods, upper-class neighbourhoods, they all have pretty much the same problem. The reason they've had it, the problem with immigration, everything else hasn't fallen for them in the last ten years, for example, hospital waiting lists, for their sons and daughters. Can't buy a house in Ireland anymore because it's unaffordable.Lack of housing _.And many of these things are due to immigration.”

The Irish Freedom Party says discontent is growing among Irish voters.

Herman Kelly Its leader said, “_When our own citizens immigrate to Australia and Canada, people from overseas are tired of seeing this money from social assistance and free housing, go to work and pay taxes, so there is an economic cost _.and a security cost.”

Seasoned observers of Irish politics say the new wave of parties critical of Ireland's immigration policy is responding to growing public concern.

according to Pat LeahyJournalist atThe Irish Times“_Candidates and anti-immigrant parties that have been developing in recent months are responding to public concern on this issue_They try to manipulate it for their political ends.”

So these four parties are in the fray for the June 9 elections and it remains to be seen whether they will win the seats. Even if this is not the case, their participation in these elections is evidence of a growing Irish public's perception that their government and the European Commission seem out of touch with reality when it comes to immigration.