A chara, - Will our "Irishness", like the rain, always be with us or will it disappear into the European Union's cultural melting pot? Have we, unwittingly, in our rush to grab EU gold, set in train a process leading to the eventual extinction of Irish culture?
Under current rules there is no restriction on movement between EU states - a vast empire that will soon extend to 25 nations, with more to follow. EU citizens are free to live, work and buy property in any EU country, irrespective of the impact on individual nations or local communities. This, despite the fact that extensive internal EU migrations will undermine the fabric and cohesiveness, of communities and nations alike.
Only a finite number of foreign nationals, whether from within the EU or otherwise, can be absorbed into any community, be it local or national, without undermining its culture and stability. Hence the need for immigration to be controlled at national level.
Spain's recent unilateral decision to admit one million immigrants, who may later move to other countries within the Euro zone, exposes the current EU policy on immigration as a sham.
Initially, such migrations threaten the smaller ethnic minorities within the EU, such as the Irish, Scots and Welsh. All that is needed for an overwhelming of indigenous culture is for some magnet, such as quality of life, employment or liberal welfare provisions, to draw sufficient strangers in. The process has already brought significant change to Irish society.
Before we agree to an EU constitution, we should ensure that our unique way of life and Celtic heritage is preserved into the future, by securing the right to cap both EU migration and immigration from outside. The levels at which they should be set must, eventually, be a question for the Irish electorate to decide, but for now, let us assert a national right to do so.
We should learn from the consequences of earlier failures to protect Irish fishing rights and citizenship, and defend our "Irishness", while we still can. - Is mise,
LIAM Ó GÉIBHEANNAIGH, Átha an Ghainimh, Co Átha Cliath.