Sir, - Politicians vie with each other in calling for an amnesty for immigrants to clear the backlog of applicants. To bolster their argument they emphasise the large number of people who emigrated from this country over the years and advocate that we now reciprocate by opening our doors to immigrants.
I have sympathy for anyone who has to leave home in order to seek work abroad, having had personal experience in the early 1950s. At that time, due to lack of work and the failure of governments to provide training for the jobs which were available, we had no alternative but to try our luck elsewhere. It is nauseating to witness the hypocrisy of members of these same political parties who are now using our plight in order to clamber aboard the current bandwagon of immigration.
Because of the regulations which govern one's entitlement to a full old-age pension, the years spent outside of this country reduce one's average of stamps or contributions, resulting in a cut in pension. Those who remained at home, in addition to drawing the dole, were given credits which count as social welfare contributions towards a full pension. Let us now hear our TDs demand that the next Budget contain an amnesty for returned emigrants, allowing us credits for the years which we spent abroad and the right to a full pension. In general, with the exception of State pensioners, OAPs are not organised and therefore lack the political clout that would spur TDs to act on our behalf. It is time to remind them that we still have the vote and that there is strength innumbers.
It should also be remembered that those of us who emigrated saved successive governments huge amounts in dole payments. In addition, the monies which were posted home put extra cash into circulation, thereby helping the economy. Our remittances were invisible exports, with the added advantage to the State that they did not require a subsidy. Furthermore, returning emigrants brought home new skills which have helped in no small way towards the development of this country.
When one adds up all the advantages which have accrued to the State by our emigrating and contrast them with the manner in which we are being treated in the matter of pension rights, it is obvious that returned emigrants are being short-changed. Surveys have shown that at election time our senior citizens can be relied upon to cast their votes. Perhaps we should be more selective when next called on to exercise this right. - Yours, etc.,
P. J. O'Connell,
St Brendan's Drive,
Malahide Road,
Dublin 5.