Sir, – While reading Paul Rouse’s piece I was struck by his use of the old line about Irish people emigrating to countries over many years (“Politics of cultural despair shaping anti-immigrant protests”, Opinion & Analysis, August 4th). The implication is that this puts a moral onus on us to give a big céad míle fáilte to refugees and asylum seekers. No Irish person arrived on Ellis Island to be met with a medical card and accommodation. Circumstances are dramatically different in today’s world.
That there are elements who are xenophobic involved in the protests Prof Rouse describes is beyond doubt. That should not detract from legitimate concerns about our policy towards asylum seekers which, in many areas, is extremely lax and open to exploitation.
Shouting “far right” at people expressing these concerns, as has become normal, will not make these concerns go away. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS,
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