It is an “illusion” to think the State has the power to drastically cut immigration, Leo Varadkar has said.

The former Taoiseach hit the headlines once again this morning after he warned that immigration numbers have risen far too quickly in Ireland in recent years – and suggested it has been a real challenge for the country.

During a visit to the University of Notre Dame in the US, Deputy Varadkar said that while the majority of Irish people believe immigration had benefitted in Ireland in recent years, people were also “right” to think that numbers have risen too quickly.

On Lunchtime Live, Mr Varadkar said he “absolutely stands over” the comments.

He described immigration as "good for our economy” and something that “makes our country a more interesting place” – but said he would like to see less of it in the years ahead.

“What I said, which I absolutely stand over, is all the research about public opinion shows that most people think immigration is a good thing for Ireland - and I think that too,” he said. 

“It shows that most people think that the numbers in recent years have been too great, that a country of five million people dealing with an extra hundred thousand people a year every year is too much – it’s a struggle.

“What I also said - which wasn’t reported - is that some people - a lot of people - think that it’s a tap that the Government can turn up or turn down or regulate and that’s not true.

“That’s not how the world works now.” 

People passing through Dublin Airport, 1-2-20. Image: Stephen Barnes/Travel / Alamy

Mr Varadkar said people were under the “illusion” that he could control the number of immigrants arriving in Ireland when he was Taoiseach and often blamed him personally for the high number of people seeking international protection. 

“One thing I would have faced a lot as Taoiseach is, ‘You’re bringing all these asylum seekers into the country’ - as if I was handing out brochures in Kabul or Syria,” he said. 

“Of course I wasn’t – but that’s what some people think.”

'How much is too many?'

According to the CSO, between April 2022 and 2023, Ireland’s population rose by 97,600 people - which it described as “the largest 12-month increase since 2008.”

To those who condemned his comments, Mr Varadkar said they should be asked if they believe immigration could ever reach too high a level. 

“If anyone disagrees with me, I would ask them the very simple question - how much is too many?” he said. 

“Is it 150,000, is it 200,000 a year? Half a million a year?” 

Mr Varadkar also ruled out standing for President next year or in the future, insisting that he will “absolutely not” be a candidate.

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Main image: Leo Varadkar. Image by: Newstalk