DUBLIN, IRELAND — Large crowds gathered in Dublin for an anti-immigration demonstration, with protesters expressing opposition to mass immigration and the European Union’s Migration and Asylum Pact.

The demonstrators marched through parts of the Irish capital, carrying Irish flags and placards while chanting slogans including “Get them out” and “Whose country? Our country.”

The protest reflected growing public debate in Ireland over immigration, asylum policy, housing pressures and the extent of Ireland’s obligations under the European Union’s migration framework.

Similar demonstrations have taken place in Dublin in recent months. During a June protest, hundreds of people marched from O’Connell Street towards Leinster House, with organisers specifically calling for opposition to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

The EU Migration and Asylum Pact introduces common procedures for international protection applications across the bloc, including strengthened border screening, security and health checks, and measures intended to streamline asylum and return procedures.

Some protesters argue that the pact could reduce Ireland’s ability to independently determine aspects of its migration and asylum policy. Others have linked their concerns to Ireland’s housing and public-service pressures.

The Irish Government, however, has defended the migration framework. In September, Minister for Migration Colm Brophy said applications for international protection had fallen since the pact came into operation, describing the development as evidence that the system was working.

The latest demonstration adds to an increasingly prominent national debate over immigration, Ireland’s relationship with the EU and how the country should manage asylum and migration.

While claims have circulated that the demonstration attracted more than 100,000 people, that figure could not be independently verified from the reliable reports reviewed for this article.