Madam, - The suggestion by the Garda Commissioner that he intends to find "suitable people to police the new communities we now have in Ireland" is disturbing (The Irish Times, September 1st).
We should be trying to assimilate immigrants, not treating them as a problem requiring special arrangements. It is, of course, desirable that we recruit gardaí from ethnic minorities, but they should not be assigned specially to police immigrants. Any actions that might encourage the development of ghettoes are to be discouraged and are not in the interests of long-term harmony between the native and immigrant populations. - Yours etc,
KEVIN KEALY,
Frankfort Park,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.
Madam, - The proposed removal of the Irish language requirement for members of An Garda Síochána is a shortsighted political decision which will reap a whirlwind in years to come. The rationale behind this decision is that it will encourage foreign nationals to join the force, making it more inclusive and representative.
This ill-conceived decision flies in the face of recent experience in Great Britain and the Netherlands where multiculturalism has singularly failed in its objective of allowing migrants to retain their own culture while integrating into the new society. In both countries, large communities of immigrants and their European-born children still remain outside of society and are unable to integrate and achieve their full potential. This results in alienation, mistrust and societal upheaval.
I am not suggesting that immigrants be prohibited from retaining their mother tongue or customs. That would be illegal and impractical. However, by changing the rules on Irish, admittedly for all applicants, the Government is making the kind of error made by British and Dutch governments. That is to say, they are downgrading the norms and culture of the State in the vain hope that this will somehow make the State seem more tolerant. In reality, however, immigrants, as in Europe, will take this as a signal that integration is not required and full participation is not expected.
Furthermore, what signal does this action send to the many who speak Irish and are proud that their language is an official language of the State? Is Irish to be official only for native-born Irish and not for others? What other norms will be dropped in the near future to make us more inclusive? Lowering standards has been shown to be a failed concept and once that particular Rubicon has been crossed other ideas, standards and norms cherished by the Irish people will surely fall on the altar of multiculturalism.- Yours, etc,
TREVOR TROY,
Connaught Place,
Athboy,
Co Meath.