Fear of another economic crash keeps Irish people from returning home from Australia, an Irish doctor has argued.
The Government has recently spent over €500,000 on advertising in order to encourage Irish workers in Canada and Australia to come home and work in construction.
On Lunchtime Live, Dr Ray O’Sullivan, who previously worked Down Under, explained the simple reason why so many Irish want to stay there.
“Australia hasn’t had a recession for 40 years [outside of COVID],” he said.
“They’ve had economic growth year on year… Asia woke up and become a big market for them.
“They’ve made lots of money.”
Koala. Picture by: Alamy.com.Dr O’Sullivan added that this means Irish people “don’t have to worry” about losing their jobs in another crash.
“They do it right,” he said.
“So, even just the day to day living out there; it might be expensive in Sydney and Melbourne - equivalent to Dublin.
“But you know there won’t be a downturn.”
Dr O’Sullivan predicted there would always be a “big, bright future” in Australia.
“In Ireland, there’s doubt,” he said.
“Will we get it wrong again?”
Bondi Beach. Picture by: Richard Milnes/Alamy Live NewsAlso on the programme, plumber Martin said life in Ireland is too expensive to lure many workers back.
“I know people who came back; they came here from Australia two years ago,” he said.
“They bought a house out where I’m living and they’re selling up again, they’re going back to Australia.
“It’s way too expensive, they can’t afford it.”
Main image: A ghost estate and a kangaroo. Picture by: Alamy.com.
