InEire: Towards an Inclusive Ireland through an Economic Assessment of Anti-Immigrant Sentiment in Ireland

Immigration is a complex phenomenon with significant societal implications. It can drive economic opportunities but also cause disruptions, leading to increased anti-migrant sentiment. This sentiment was evident during events like Brexit and Donald Trump’s presidency. Ireland has also experienced such challenges, highlighted in a 2018 report by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

This project aimed to comprehensively analyze the factors behind anti-migrant sentiment in Ireland. It sought to build a robust collection of data and provide insights using data analytics. As a distinct field, data analytics has become crucial in studying real-world phenomena in the social sciences. By pairing it with quantitative methods, the project uncovered insights difficult to find through qualitative analysis alone.

While much research, like HateTrack, focused on online spaces, this project advocated for a more integrated approach. It analyzed multiple data sources, including surveys and focus groups, alongside online platforms. The project categorized different types of anti-immigrant sentiment, aiming to provide insights that could help reduce such sentiments in Ireland.