How do you know our rulers are spoofing? A cynic might say the tell is that they have their mouths open. But being sweet-natured, I would suggest two sure signs. One is that they are posing as persecuted truth-tellers. The other is that they are implying they will do something they will never actually do – take on major power centres in the Irish economy. On both counts, the Government is clearly spoofing about migration.

A big thing has happened in Irish public life in the last month: the Government has decided there are too many migrants coming to live in Ireland and that the growth in our population must be slowed. It is not obvious how this momentous decision has been reached or what detailed studies lie behind it. But both Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan have explicitly announced this momentous shift in national strategy.

It’s a shift saturated in spoofery. The first tell is Harris posturing as Honest Simon beset by “pathetic” people trying to “shut down ... debate”. This combination of self-pity and self-aggrandisement is familiar from the allegedly anti-elitist mode of right-wing populism.

Let’s be clear: Ireland needs a genuine debate about migration. But debate is not sloganeering. It’s not verbal gesturing. It’s not resort to sweeping generalities. It’s not peddling disinformation. It is serious engagement with tangible realities.

Deciding to reduce migration is perfectly legitimate. One may or may not agree........

© The Irish Times