Madam, - Pat Rabbitte's recent remarks concerning immigration are to be welcomed on several levels.
However, I believe he was wrong to highlight fellow members of the EU. Poles are fully entitled to live and work in Ireland as our Government, unlike many others in the EU, decided that open borders from accession day was the fair way to behave. This decision was welcomed heartily by the Irish left, and those who cautioned against the possibility of large-scale migration to Ireland were accused of racism.
Over the past few months, many contributors to your Letters page have suggested that Turkish entry to the EU might pose similar problems of large-scale immigration. The long-term implications for Irish society of the arrival of what could be tens of thousands of Turkish migrants needs to be aired.
Thankfully, Mr Rabbitte's interjection may have finally cleared the way for this discussion to take place in an open and civil manner. As one of Ireland's leading left-leaning public figures has finally awoken to the fears and concerns of thousands of Irish people, the possibility of honest debate may now be afforded to us.
One ironic feature of this matter is that the people who want this debate, and are usually accused of being right-wing racists, have had their position vindicated by a scion of the left. The other is that the usual coterie of left-wing journalists, academics, trade unionists and others have maintained silence and refrained from hurling the invective they are usually only too willing to throw.
Thank you, Mr Rabbitte. - Yours, etc,
TREVOR TROY,
Connaught Place,
Athboy,
Co Meath.
Madam, - Liam Ó Géibheannaigh (January 9th) suggests that Ireland may have been better off under British rule as we are losing our "identity as a nation" due to an influx of foreigners. I would like to remind your readers that the vast bulk of the nation's population rise in recent years has been due to Irish people returning from abroad. These emigrants, whose remittances helped to keep the country afloat during the darkest days, can now find jobs to return to, and this should be celebrated.
Instead of dreaming of some mythical Celtic ideal, we should instead contrast our situation with that of Scotland, our sister nation, which has chosen to remain in the United Kingdom. Since the war, Scotland has seen near constant emigration and economic depression. Many sons and daughters of Scotland live in England because Scotland is unable to provide homes and jobs.
It is bread and butter economics that keeps us Irish living in Ireland, and without that there can be no Irish culture. - Yours, etc,
MARK SUGRUE,
Caherdavin,
Limerick.