The Taoiseach tells Trump’s favourite news station Ireland is “not overrun” with immigrants

Micheál Martin says system is "too slow" but pushes back on myths.

The Rupert Murdoch owned station is a strong supporter of the US President Donald Trump.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Martin said "I don't believe murder or crime is specific to any nationality."

"It's over stated, asylum seeking," he said. "It's coming down and has tightened up a lot."

“Ireland is not overrun in any shape or form.

“But we are conscious that it is an issue that has to be addressed robustly, firmly, fairly as well in terms of those seeking asylum.

“All over Europe it’s tightening up because of the pressures and migration has created significant political pressures across Europe.”

However, he said illegal migration is “more potent issue” and Irish system was “too slow” in processing those seeking asylum, but that has changed.

“We’ve accelerated the application and the consideration of applications, and we’ve also now accelerated the appeals process,” he said.

Asked whether it is “hard to deport people once they land in Ireland”, he said “not everyone has to be deported”.

“Many go voluntarily, because they’re not receiving anything if their application is rejected, payments or anything like that.

“You don’t have anything to live on and you’re asked to go back to your country of origin - and many do.

“We’ve upped the numbers who’ve been identified for deportations, it has increased very significantly.”

Fox News invoked the case of Jamey Carney, who was murdered by an asylum seeker, Martin said the case was "shocking" but "crime in Ireland has reduced, and we would make sure if people's applications are rejected that there is fast movement on that."

10 women have been killed so far this year in 2026, the majority of which have been killed by Irish men.

The Fox News host then said he looks at the news and there is a "view" crimes in the courts are caused by illegal immigrants, which is false and has been debunked.

The Fianna Fáil leader was also asked whether crime statistics in Ireland should include the nationality of the suspect.

Mr Martin said he is “not opposed to that” but rejected the claim that nationality drives crime.

“I’m not too sure that murder or crime is specific to any nationality. In fact, a lot of crime is committed by Irish people as well as other nationalities,” he said.

“Overall crime levels, relative to other jurisdictions, is relatively low, but one crime is too many.

“I’ve no issue with data, because sometimes it can inform, because sometimes you get a distorted picture. So as far as I’m concerned, data is important.

“I don’t think crime is specific to any nationality. But there are issues there, and in some cases, yes, there’s been horrific crimes committed, but not all by illegal migrants either.”