Sir, - I write to commend your newspaper for the recent publication of the series of articles by Nuala Haughey on refugees and multiculturalism in Ireland. I was quite impressed by the balanced and objective coverage of the issues.
As a Nigerian, I was alarmed to read of the enforced departure of a Nigerian family from a housing estate in Co Clare due to its observance of our traditional Nigerian cultural practices. Considering the recent well-publicised difficulties of housing refugees, this is a very negative development indeed.
Hopefully, the present high levels of ignorance regarding other races and foreign cultures in this country will be reduced by the publication of the enlightening series of articles and perhaps it will help kick-start a meaningful public debate on the future shape of a multicultural Ireland where foreigners are treated with respect and dignity, irrespective of their racial background.
It is unfortunate that the latest proposals by the Government (The Irish Times, December 14th) regarding processing of asylum applications, immigration etc., fall far short of the anticipated comprehensive overhaul of the entire immigration and refugee policies.
Given the comparatively small numbers presently resident in the state (compared to refugees in other similarly small EU countries e.g. 22,000 in Belgium), coupled with present labour shortages in the Irish economy, I can see no reason why amnesty for the 2,100 refugees given entitlement to work last July is not seriously considered and speedily adopted by the Government. This is a practical move that would release overburdened administrative resources of the Government to deal with the balance of asylum applications in an expeditious manner.
Finally, in my view, the future of a multicultural and inclusive Ireland will not be enhanced by the recent legislative proposals contained in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill, 1999, imposing new restrictions on the entitlement of foreign spouses of Irish nationals to Irish citizenship (The Irish Times, December 9th) - Yours, etc.,
Wole Akande, Dooradoyle, Co Clare.