Why is it the English get "special treatment" in Ireland?

Question

OK, so I have no gripe with English people (other than their politicians), but I can't help but wonder why the Irish government treats them better than other foreigners from within the EU.

The English for example can move to Ireland, claim rent allowance, get Jobseekers Benefit (the Dole) from the first day, vote in Dail elections, and stay indefinately.

If someone from, say Poland, came here then if they couldn't pay their rent they would be evicted. If they couldn't afford food they'd be hungry, and if they couldn't prove they could pay their way after 6 months they'd be sent back to Poland.

Why the difference?

Is it reciporical? If I moved to England, Scotland or Wales (not that I intend to) would I be treated almost like their own by the authorities, or at least substantially better than other foreigners there? Or is it just that we have a soft spot the Brits?

Answer 1

You are so wrong! It is very hard to emigrate to Ireland, & certainly the English have no special privileges. Ireland is not so wealthy they can just let anyone come there & start claiming the dole or any other benifits without good reason. We are also a very small country.

Answer 2

They are reciprocal agreements.  It is also the reason we are not in the Schengan Zone as we have a common travel area with the UK.

It is the same as we have reciprocal working visa agreements with Canada and Australia, but no longer with the US.

All EU citizens are allowed to study in Ireland without paying tuition fees as long as they have been resident in an EU country for a certain number of years.

These agreements are outside of the EU. If France or Germany wished to make similar agreements then French and Germans would be given the same treatment.

Answer 3

Under the Ireland Act 1949, citizens of Ireland can settle in the UK and be treated as a British citizen - why do you think it's so easy for the Irish to emigrate to Britain all these years?  There are similar provisions in place for British citizens settling in Ireland.    

There are also reciprocal agreements in place covering things like Social Welfare, so an English citizen living in Ireland is possibly drawing on the National Insurance contributions they've made in UK rather then Irish tax payers - I can't be 100% sure about that as I've never had to look into in detail.

Answer 4

uscrodeu, HOW did you get them to give you 1,000 euro just for being American? Tell me your secret! :)

Answer 5

Im irish and all this is news to me....

I think you are quite mistaken....

Also if any thing the English get treated worse here....

Answer 6

hi you

when 26 counties got won its freedom back from England in 1922 due to the fact that there was 6 counties of Ireland still under British rule and that lots of Irish living in the UK wanted to stay there and a lot of English what to stay in the 26 counties all this became part of the treaty and that is why today Irish people going to the UK and UK people coming to Ireland don't need a passport and anyone in the EU do

Answer 7

I am Irish and I think you are soooo very wrong!!

Answer 8

That's bullshit. My mother is English and gets no special treatment.

Answer 9

I'm American and I think I got better treatment than the English. They had a special line for us through customs. They also gave use 1000 free euro to spend during our 2 weeks.

I love ireland.  Everyone on our plane that was American go the same deal.  My English inlaws got a nice greeting but that was it.

Answer 10

Anyone who has worked in another EU country and who has built up social benefits can move to another EU country and claim them there, provided they have the paperwork to prove it.

No paperwork, no benefits.

Answer 11

I am Irish , where did you get this information ?