Madam, - It was extremely disappointing to read of Pat Rabbitte, leader of the Labour Party, implicitly calling for the extension of the work permits regime to cover workers from EU countries. There is near unanimous agreement that the work permit scheme has a very negative effect on the rights and conditions of workers and puts far too much power into the hands of employers who hold the permits.
The NESC in its recent report, "People, Productivity and Purpose", has considered these matters and concluded that the maintenance and enhancement of standards within the economy and society is a more effective way of ensuring the rights of all workers than seeking to prevent the arrival of migrants.
As a corollary, is Mr Rabbitte suggesting that Irish citizens who wish to work elsewhere in the EU should now have to get a work permit from an employer in the relevant country? - Yours, etc,
KIERAN ROSE, Palatine Square, Dublin 7.
Madam, - Your front-page headline in Tuesday's edition, "Rabbitte calls for a rethink of policy on immigrants", can only play into the hands of anti-immigration forces in our society, especially in the run-up to the next general election.
There is no doubt that the Irish working public, judging by the recent massive demonstration in support of the Irish Ferries workers, is determined to maintain its hard-earned living standards. However, the way forward is not to make non-Irish workers, especially from within the EU, the scapegoats in this "displacement" and thus to create unnecessary panic - especially with references such as Mr Rabbitte's to the "40 million or so Poles".
Mr Rabbitte admits that concern is based on "anecdotal evidence" from the construction, meat and hospitality industries. There is no doubt that many non-Irish workers in many sectors are being grossly underpaid and made to work for illegally long hours. The remedy is vastly to increase the numbers in the inspectorate of the Department of Employment and Enterprise to enforce legal working standards.
It should equally be emphasised that many Irish workers are busy speculating and buying up apartments, villas and land in the new EU states, thus inflating house prices out of the reach of working citizens there. Not contented with their affluent new life styles they wish to make a killing at the expense of many of the "40 or so million Poles". Maybe these EU states should consider restricting the influx of speculative Irish capital into their countries. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER, Pennock Hill, Swords, Co Dublin.