Sir, - The word racism is grossly overused when one considers that the prejudice is rarely against the rich of any race but invariably against the poor of every race.
In Ireland today the gap between the wealthy and those with no property is widening to a chasm. As a result the number of people becoming homeless or going on lengthy housing lists is increasing at an alarming rate. Until we get our own house in order the more people we allow in or bring in will only add to the disorder.
Our booming economy is big business and as such requires a lot of cheap labour to maintain high profits. In our present system, a few profit a lot, some quite a bit, while many do not profit at all. Unless justice (or charity) begins at home it is not genuine, but rather a public relations exercise that will be exploited by some while being useless to those who really need it.
It should be noted that the Progressive Democrats (of which Ms Liz O'Donnell is a member) are to the forefront in the Government's reduction of the higher rate of tax. This measure will be of most benefit to those on the highest salaries and who will already have benefited from any widening of the tax bands and reduction in the lower rate of income tax. When the rich get more the poor can only have less; there is, after all, only so much material wealth to go around.
It now appears that the poor of this country will be vying with refugees for the crumbs that fall from the rich man's budget. This should ensure a plentiful supply of cheap labour and no doubt a lot of cheap talk on radio and television programmes where the presenters receive salaries that keep them well removed from the average person, not to mention the poor. - Yours, etc., Pat Hughes,
Bird Avenue, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.