Brain drain is sucking us dry
Our best and brightest people are leaving and many are not planning to return home, writes Alison O'Riordan
Sunday July 18 2010
The great human tragedy of losing a generation of sharp, smart, well-educated young Irish people to emigration is once again unfolding on this island.
Spiralling unemployment means 'Generation Exodus' is leaving in droves, and, until the economy stages a strong recovery -- something that is not going to happen in the short-term -- our wild geese are unlikely to return home.
It happened in the Fifties, and again in the Eighties, and now it is happening again.
Instead of inheriting the fruits of 10 years of growth, those who burn the brightest are forced to stay away.
'Generation Exodus' is the end result of the weak and foolhardy governance of Ireland over the past 10 years.
Meanwhile, the people who caused the crisis and dismissed persistent economic warnings are still in power.
"There is certainly an issue of blame out there. I blame the Irish Government, the bankers, the developers. I am ashamed to come from a country where this is part and parcel of everyday life. Why would I want to live in a country where unemployment is rife and our own people have screwed us over so badly that people are just keeping the wolf from the door, and not making a wage?" said 25-year-old Linda Thompson, who recently moved to London.
"We haven't seen too much anger on the streets yet but, with the way things are going, it's only a matter of time. The Government is pumping billions into the banks and keeping developers afloat. If the situation worsens I can see social unrest occurring. Ireland is not in my future plans," said 30-year-old recruitment consultant Nancy Mooney, a recent emigrant to England.
When the economy was booming political leaders and public figures lauded the contribution the youth of Ireland made -- now that we have fallen into recession these young cubs have no choice but to stay abroad working whilst those 'leadership' voices stay silent on the issue of our best and brightest leaving.
For those watching with interest from abroad, rising joblessness is the main barrier to moving back.
Irish people who are already working in other countries see unemployment as the greatest challenge and one of the greatest obstacles to the Irish economic recovery.
"Unemployment is at 13.4 per cent, but some estimate the true figure to be as high as 20 per cent. Action from the Government is needed to facilitate recruitment and employment growth. Until we see that, we won't be budging from England," said Peter Jones, an engineer working in central London.
"Fear is growing amongst the emigrants about the future for their friends and families left behind in Ireland, we see the hardship they are going through and we may not return," said Mick Daly, from Tipperary, but now working in Hammersmith in London.
Whilst we at home can't seem to manoeuvre our failed Government, spearheaded by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who denies suggestions that the Government is doing nothing about the unemployment situation, the British Prime Minister David Cameron and his liberal Democrat ally Nick Clegg are seen as a ray of light to the young people in England.
"People are upbeat about the new government in England. They will take risks in the months to come and have the backing of the people. In Ireland, they won't budge, it's doing nothing for the country's self-esteem" said Margaret Roche, from Carlow, who has been living in London for the last three years.
Daniel O'Riordan, from Blessington in Co Wicklow, has also been living in London for the last few years, raising a young family, and he had harboured hopes of moving back to Ireland eventually.
Having bought a home in the suburbs and with his daughter starting pre-school, he has no regrets now about choosing London as his base.
"Friends in Ireland face the prospect of negative equity, job losses and enforced emigration while things here, while not rosy, are a whole lot better. I did lose my job last year when my company moved most of their operations to India, but I was lucky enough to find a better job almost immediately," he said.
Whilst the government in England are instituting cuts across the public service and raising taxes, these are not on the same drastic scale as those introduced in Ireland.
With Ireland being the second-highest country after Denmark for grocery costs, the cost of living is still a lot cheaper in England.
"In the schools, teachers have not been cut so I feel my daughter's education won't suffer unduly. The NHS is a sacred calf in the UK and has been spared any major cuts, with free GP visits being a huge benefit, and so it isn't going the way of the health service back home, plus the tax rises to come next year are not too high. Child benefit has been frozen for the next four years rather than cut," he said.
Jobwise, Daniel still gets the occasional call from recruitment agencies scouting for clients.
"Things in London seem relatively good when compared with Dublin. I would not move home to Ireland anytime soon, that would be economic suicide," he said.
Siobhan Breatnach is another Irish Londoner who came with the intention of working in England short-term, but now has no plans to return home.
"Working in journalism, there is no shortage of opportunities in London. It's a massive media hub, with plenty on offer if you're prepared to work hard and put in the hours. I often wonder if I'd have progressed as much professionally if I'd stayed in Ireland. And would I even still have a job? The current economy makes a decision to move back to Ireland a lot less attractive," she said.
Young people want to bring their experience back home, but their hands are tied.
Banker Richard Halpin ideally wanted to move back home about now, but he will wait -- and not too reluctantly either.
"Like me, a lot of my Irish friends would ideally like to bring their experience back to Ireland soon.
"Unfortunately that may not happen for some time and it will be Ireland's loss, as these are some of the smartest people to come through the Irish education system. From the outside looking in, Ireland seems like it has a long way to go before it will be able to provide enough jobs to keep people from emigrating," he said.
Originally published in
