The Irish Examiner/ICMSA survey found 89% of both men and women feel the Government is too soft on immigration. Just 4% disagreed with this view.

Commenting on the survey findings, chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland Denise Charlton said Ireland needs a “clear, efficient, and fair” immigration system befitting a modern democracy.

The hardline view on immigration was held by farmers in all age groups, all farming sectors, and in every area surveyed — with no groupings expressing less than 80% support.

In terms of voting preference, 100% of Labour voters felt that Ireland was too soft on immigration, followed by Fine Gael (91%), Fianna Fáil (89%), Sinn Féin (87%) and Independent (85%).

The results come in the midst of mounting anger and protests over conditions in the 34 direct provision centres around the country.

Introduced in 1999, the centres now contain more than 4,000 asylum seekers and more than 1,600 children.

Residents currently spend an average of four years in the centres, with whole families sharing single hotel rooms.

While resident in direct provision, asylum-seekers are not allowed to work and are not entitled to regular social welfare. Instead, they receive a weekly payment of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child.

Asylum-seekers spend an average of four years in these settings, often sharing single rooms with their families.

Ms Charlton said the view that Ireland is too soft on immigration did not reflect the reality experienced by many Irish citizens and legal migrants forced to negotiate the immigration system.

“Unfortunately, the findings do not reflect the experience of many Irish citizens and legal migrants forced to negotiate an immigration system which lacks clear rules and guidelines and does not offer its clients the protection of the Office of the Ombudsman,” said Ms Charlton.

She said Ireland needs a “clear, efficient, and fair” immigration system befitting a modern democracy.

“Too many people, both Irish and migrant, are split from their loved ones because there is no automatic right to family reunification, while those actively working and contributing to the economic recovery are forced to queue for hours, or even a day, to renew visas, permits and stamps,” she said.

President of the ICMSA John Comer said the fact that virtually every farmer feels that Ireland is too soft on immigrants was “food for thought”.

“There has been a sense that any debate on this potentially controversial topic was ended and that the populace, in general, was — if not happy about the levels of immigration — then at least resigned to the fact that ‘it is what it is’ and it was no longer a topic that would generate striking levels of support either way,” he said.

“The degree of disagreement with present immigration revealed in this survey must challenge that and may well concentrate minds in some quarters about, for instance, the granting of permission to fully access social welfare and education.”