Immigration has overtaken housing and the cost-of-living to become the main issue on the minds of voters, according to a new Irish Times and Ipsos Behaviour and Attitudes survey. The public sentiment research coincides with a study by Maynooth University of what protesters at migration-related rallies really want. Dr Barry Cannon and Shane Murphy have found locals cite security fears, a scarcity of resources, lack of government consultation and the suitability of accommodation sites, in that order. Although most sought to distance themselves from far-right agitators, they simultaneously engaged with racist tropes. Dr Barry says it's time to level with people about the pros and cons of immigration without allowing the far right to set the parameters of the debate. He explains how racism is so embedded we hardly see it, how middle-income earners benefit from migration while those from lower-income groups may not, and how a failure to hold a discourse in politics and the media is exacerbating the situation. In The News attempts to have that conversation today with Dr Cannon and Irish Times Political Correspondent, Jennifer Bray.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan.

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