Madam, – On reading the comments published (Opinion, November 2nd) in response to Shane Fitzgerald’s views on leaving Ireland’s “bankrupt shores” (Opinion, October 29th), I am struck by the venom expressed by some of my fellow expats. I refer in particular to the reference by “Jay” to “corruption in the Government, banks, business, police, law, and even the Catholic Church (Home Rule was certainly Rome rule)”.
As an accidental, and more recent emigrant to perhaps one of Western Europe’s most corrupt states, Italy – specifically the aforementioned Rome, I am stunned by the inaccuracy of this comment. I live in a so-called modern country where the head of government controls six of the seven television stations and is ranked 49th in the Press Freedom Rankings (as opposed to Ireland’s joint first-place ranking). I live in a country where neither the dole nor childcare benefits exist. I live in a country where the combined antics of Bertie Ahern and Charlie Haughey wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow.
Nowhere is perfect and there are many reasons why Italy is a wonderful place to live. Just as there are many reasons why Ireland is a wonderful place to live.
Faraway hills are always greener, and perhaps my feelings come from the fact that my living in Rome is the result of a happy accident rather than forced emigration from the west of Ireland.
As the impact of the boom’s implosion continues, things do appear bleak, but people must be careful of believing that Utopia is to be found at the far end of a flight from Dublin Airport. – Yours, etc,