I think there are few who are not prepared to accept people fleeing oppression. But we have an overwhelming number of 'economic refugees' entering the country....many coming to Ireland because of generous 'welfare' benefits.
There is a huge back log and delay in processing asylum applications (up to two years in some cases), and this has caused quite an amount of ill feeling amongst tax payers...who ultimately see the asylum seekers as 'sponging off the system'. The issue of immediate temporary work permits on arrival, while asylum applications are being processed, would probably help.
Of course there are concerns about the numbers coming into the country.
Until a couple of years ago, Ireland could certainly not be deemed 'multi-cultural' - and now all of a sudden we are being swamped with all the problems adapting to a multi-cultural lifestyle brings with it. Of course, voice these concerns aloud, and you are immediately branded by a racist card.
Nobody wants to see people dying in the back of shipping containers (as happened in the port near my home town some months back) in their quest for a better life; but Ireland, in general, while accepting it's 'fair share' of refugees, could be on a slippery slide, by putting out a cead míle fáilte to every Tom, Dick and Harry...not to mention every José, Mohommad and Abdul.
Ireland is a small population wise, look at what the Muslims are saying in Britain, they're going to take it over by outbreeding them. They could do it to you overnight instead of years. It isn't racism in my opinion to want to preserve Irish culture in your own country.