Ireland's Education Minister supports Indian student migration

Ireland's Education Minister, James Lawless, has emphasized the country's welcoming stance towards Indian students and workers, despite concerns about rising anti-immigrant sentiment. He spoke during his visit to India, where he met government officials to discuss educational and technological collaborations. As tensions rise over the U.S. reciprocal tariffs, set to take effect on April 2, Ireland is strengthening trade relationships with other nations. Lawless noted that Ireland is part of the European Union, which has a market of 450 million people with tariff-free trade. He highlighted ongoing negotiations for free trade agreements with Canada and India, pointing out that Ireland already trades 16 billion euros with India. The number of Indian students in Ireland has significantly increased over the past decade, growing from around 700 in 2013 to approximately 12,000 now. Lawless pointed to Ireland's status as a technology center as a key factor in attracting students, particularly in STEM fields. Addressing recent comments from Irish politician Conor McGregor, who criticized government immigration policies, Lawless stated that McGregor does not represent Ireland. He highlighted that anti-immigration groups did not gain any parliamentary seats in the recent elections, indicating a lack of mandate for their views. Lawless acknowledged that while anti-immigrant rhetoric exists, it does not reflect the majority opinion. He stressed that Ireland, a nation of immigrants, benefits from diversity and global migration, which contributes positively to the country.