Births in Ireland dropped by 13.5 per cent as the number of new babies across the European Union hit a record low, the bloc’s statistics agency said.

The decline can be explained by a brief baby boom after the Covid pandemic, with fertility rates reaching a five-year high in Ireland in 2021 and increasing across the EU as a whole.

In 2020, 55,959 babies were born in Ireland, which rose to 60,553 in 2021. In 2022, that dropped to 54,411 births.

Since 2011, the fertility rate in once devoutly Roman Catholic Ireland has decreased from 2.03 births per woman to 1.54.

“Fertility rates are low and populations are ageing,” said Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive of the European Policy Centre think tank in Brussels.

“This demographic transition is a major transformation that has an impact across societies and populations, and should lead to a redesign of policies, including migration, given that tight labour markets are already a drag on growth.”

🔗 telegraph.co.uk

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Confirmation from the Attorney General (via The Ditch) that the proposed referendum change to the definition of family will give greater weight to non-marital rights in immigration cases.

No wonder certain immigration solicitors are salivating at the prospect of a 'yes'...

Early indication of a low turnout across the country for the referenda.

🔗 rte.ie

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Slow turnout in the referenda across the country.

Munster: 'A dribble of voters turning out in rural areas. In some urban areas, voting will struggle to get to double figures by lunchtime.'

Leinster: As low as 5% to 6% in parts of Carlow, Wexford & Athlone and across Laois & Longford but up to 12.2% in Bray and Greystones and 13% in Delgany.

Connacht & Ulster: "Slow is the word we're hearing from experienced presiding officers across the board."

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Ireland had highest rate of Gonorrhoea and third highest rate of Syphilis across Europe in 2022

Thank you Modern Ireland™️ 🙏🏻

https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-highest-rate-of-gonorrhoea-and-third-highest-rate-of-syphilis-latest-report-2022-6319606-Mar2024/

Early tallies as votes begin to be counted are trending No/No.

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Big No/No in Dublin South Central.

🔗 x.com

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Ballyfermot: No/No a clear majority.

Dublin Central: Large numbers of No votes in the referendum on removing protection for mothers.

Ringsend: Votes look even in the referendum on changing the definition of family.

🔗 irelandvotes.com

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Glasnevin:

🔹 70% No on removing protection for mothers.

🔹 57% No on changing the definition of family.

Birr: 80% No on the family one.

Mountmellick: 65% No on the family one also.

Sligo-Leitrim & Cavan-Monagahn boxes are being described as a 'resounding No' in referendum to change the definition of family.

🔗 irelandvotes.com

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Virgin Media News calling it for No/No.

It's all over bar the counting.

🔗 x.com

You beat the machine.

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"if I stare hard enough maybe the results will change"

Shock in government at levels of rejection in the referenda as Sinn Féin deflect blame and so-called NGOs are thrown under the bus.

Alison O'Connor told RTÉ that she was speaking to someone very senior in Fine Gael who remarked that, looking at the boxes in inner city Dublin where there was an overwhelming No, "that they felt there's possibly a link to immigration there, and people feeling that they're not being heard, and in certain communities the more far-right element are having a lot of traction."

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"This is an embarrassment, no doubt about that, for government representatives today. They are facing into an electoral cycle now with a headwind against them... and I think the question for many opposition representatives... is how they found themselves so far off on the wrong side of the electorate, and that's something that is creating not just disappointment within the political establishment but some nervousness too."

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"Will it be government policy to make sure that mothers don't have to go to work? This is what we have now got in our constitution, emphatically retained tonight."

RTÉ now admitting what the referendum on "archaic and sexist language in the constitution" that they held on International Women's Day was really about.

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‘You feel it is inflating property values’: south Dublin homes targeted by rich Chinese buyers

Surge in applications from Chinese multimillionaires to live in Ireland coincides with increase in live-streamed viewings of Dublin properties

Houses priced at between €600,000-€800,000 are the “sweet spot” for Chinese families wanting to move here, said Guangqian Yu, owner of the Vanke Ireland agency on Fitzwilliam Square, which specialises in advising Chinese clients on buying Irish properties.

Most of his clients are successful applicants for the golden visa programme, under which people have to be worth €2 million and make a substantial investment in Ireland. Many of the Dublin properties featuring on the Vanke Facebook page have asking prices of €1 million or more.

Mr O’Rafferty said that the state of the economy in China was one factor driving the phenomenon but that the harsh nature of the Beijing government’s response to the Covid pandemic was also significant. “Personally I think that the way Covid was handled in China scared the living daylights out of people and left a lasting impression.”

Will this cause Dublin 4 to finally turn against immigration?

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/housing-planning/2024/03/09/you-feel-it-is-inflating-property-values-south-dublin-homes-targeted-by-rich-chinese-buyers/

Thank you for listening. Here's a link to the stream. I talk about why it happened, the mistakes that were made during the referendum and the consequences that will come from this. Well done everyone and have a good one.