Sir, - Subsequent to recent revelations on social welfare fraud, CORI, Dick Walsh and others have told us that the case for a basic income is now unanswerable. Irrespective of the merits or demerits of the scheme per se, may I point out that it is impossible to introduce it into Ireland as long as we have a free common travel and residential area with Britain and indeed as long as the insane "basic pillar of the community" obtains; namely, free travel and residence rights for EU citizens in any member state.
A basic income scheme in Ireland will be open to, and will attract, literally millions of foreigners. Our social welfare system is already attracting them as it stands, particularly British. It is a classic example of the situation you put yourself into when you give up national sovereignty. Not even as dedicated an opponent of the EU as myself realised, until fairly recently, the appalling vista that opens up through common European citizenship. - Yours, etc.,
Rosscarbery, Co Cork.