Sir, – The reaction to Tánaiste Simon Harris’s recent statement on immigration in the Letters and Opinion pages of The Irish Times illustrates why it is almost impossible to have a sensible debate on the subject, and why every attempt to do so becomes diverted into a discussion about discussing immigration.
I read the transcript of what the Tánaiste said, and nowhere did he suggest suspending the EU right of free movement of labour. Neither did he suggest curtailing the immigration of people with vital skills for jobs which cannot be filled from the local workforce – less still deporting the nurses and other skilled workers without whom our economy would cease to function.
In fact, he expressly emphasised that most immigration was necessary and beneficial. And the overwrought insinuations that his remarks might somehow have motivated the recent arson attack on an International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre could just as easily be used to delegitimise any and every attempt to raise the subject of immigration.
And of course the magic word “dangerous” was bandied about like poteen at a wake. Well, it occurs to me that it is far more “dangerous” to continuously evade discussion on an issue on which more than two-thirds of the electorate is expressing concern.
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In the transcript I read, the Tánaiste raised two specific issues: the overall level of immigration into this country, and the abuse of the international protection system. Whatever his motives and timing were in raising these issues, they are issues that are perfectly valid subjects for debate.
We live in both an economy and a community, and it is nonsense to say that a democratic electorate and its elected representatives are not entitled to debate and decide the optimum balance between economic growth and social cohesion in the context of immigration, or whether we need to adjust our policies more towards innovative ways to incentivise our emigrant workers to return, or to make greater efforts to help those whom we have abandoned to the tender mercies of the criminal justice system and social workers to acquire the life skills required to access employment (It might also help improve our antisocial behaviour problem).
It is also nonsense to suggest that we cannot discuss the administration and policies underlying a government -administered programme which is now costing us billions of euro per annum, and which attracts a large majority of claimants who are found not to have credible claims for asylum or protection.
Immigrants don’t make immigration policy. Politicians make immigration policy, and holding our politicians to account is both our right and obligation, and is not “demonising” immigrants. –Yours, etc,
PETER MURRAY,
Carrigaline,
Co Cork.
Sir, – I recently spoke to a Swedish friend who has been working in the United Arab Emirates for 22 years and who expressed genuine sadness about the negative effects of immigration on his home country. I found the conversation uncomfortable when he mentioned the elephant in the room.
The many benefits of immigration depend on some level of integration and assimilation. Learning the vernacular language, embracing local customs and traditions, engaging in education, etc.
It made me think of our own history when a wave of French-speaking immigrants arrived in Leinster in the 12th century. Gradually they became more Irish than the Irish themselves. Then, in the 17th century, another wave arrived in Ulster from England and Scotland. Most of their descendants have not become more Irish than the Irish themselves.
We cannot effectively develop an environment where assimilation and integration of migrants takes place in our society – with all of the benefits that would bring – if we are unable, or afraid, to honestly discuss the obvious barriers created by entrenched religious divergence.
We need open and honest dialogue between ourselves and our new neighbours, where there is mutual respect for our different religions and cultures, but where religion and culture are treated separately.
Accusations of sectarianism or being anti this or phobia that can stifle meaningful debate and lead to perpetual stasis.
We must look this elephant squarely in the eye. – Yours, etc,
JIM HOLOHAN,
Stranorlar,
Co Donegal.
Waiting lists for children
Sir, – The report that some children will be on a waiting list for 13 years before they get an appointment to see a psychologist beggars belief.
Some of these children will have reached adulthood before they get an appointment.
Unfortunately, here is The Catch 22. Because they are adults they are now ineligible for the children’s service so they will have to be re-referred to the adult service and will start at the bottom of the waiting list for this service.
No further comment required. – Yours, etc,
ADRIAN HONAN,
Portarlington,
Co Laois.
Israel and Gaza healthcare
Sir, – We, as a group of doctors, are very concerned about the destruction of the healthcare system in Gaza and how this will be restored, which in the current circumstances looks extremely challenging.
We are deeply frustrated at the fact that so many doctors and essential healthcare workers, who were captured during the assaults on hospitals, remain in Israeli military detention without charge, many being ill-treated and tortured.
It is clear that human rights abuses abound in this conflict and there is clear evidence of war crimes by Israel in the targeting of healthcare workers and facilities.
Some of these were shown in a recently screened documentary on RTÉ called Gaza: Doctors under attack. International court procedures are slow and complicated and justice is likely to be delayed and therefore unhelpful until well after the fact.
We appeal to those who care about human rights to act now, to help have our colleagues restored to their work by supporting Amnesty International’s campaign on their behalf.
One such doctor is Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, a paediatrician and director of Kamal Adwan Hospital who was taken by the Israeli military following a raid on the hospital a year ago and remains without charge in prison.
We also ask the public to continue to insist the parties in Government act on their commitment to enact the Occupied Territories Bill in full as a matter of urgency.
All possible pressure must be brought on Israel to stop the continuing abuse of human rights in Gaza and restore healthcare for its people. – Yours, etc,
Dr SIOBHAN GRAHAM,
DrLAURA BARKER,
Dr ANN MARIE CONNOLLY,
Dr MARIE DRUMGOOLE,
Dr ALEXANDRA DUNCAN,
Dr MARY JENNINGS,
Dr GRACE KENNY,
Dr DERMOT LANIGAN,
Dr BRIAN LENNON,
Dr GERALDINE O’DEA,
Dr CHRISTOPHER ROZARIO,
(University Of Galway graduates 1984).
Presidential oath and Constitution
Sir, – Now that the hurly burly of the recent election is over, surely it is time for citizens to be given an opportunity to refresh the words not only of the presidential oath which refers to the “presence of Almighty God” but also the first paragraph of the Constitution itself.
This says: “In the name of the most Holy Trinity, from whom is all authority and to whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred”.
It also mentions we, the people “humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ”.
The special position of the Catholic Church and the naming of other religious denominations were removed from the Constitution in 1973. This was a recognition that demographics and religious views had changed, that liberal values were in the ascendant, and that the sensitivities of faith minorities had to be addressed.
There was also a consciousness that northern Protestants had to be convinced we were not a priest-ridden state. It behoves us, therefore, to amend what the Supreme Court many decades ago called a “living document”, to make its wording responsive to a rapidly changing Ireland where, for good or ill, references to ”Almighty God” and the “Most Holy Trinity” have less and less relevance. – Yours, etc,
PAUL MURRAY,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Water charges and housing
Sir, – The article “Scrapping water charges was a mistake with Uisce Éireann relying on budget funds” (November 10th), highlights Uisce Éireann’s funding challenges, but its framing of Ireland’s housing crisis is misleading.
While infrastructure deficits exist, the suggestion that the absence of household water charges is a central cause of high rents and house prices oversimplifies the reality.
The housing crisis stems from poor long-term planning, over-reliance on the private market, political choices prioritising developers and institutional buyers, and chronic underinvestment despite economic growth. Infrastructure shortfalls are a symptom of these policy failures, not the primary driver of housing shortages.
Focusing on water charges risks deflecting accountability from the Government and obscures the urgent need for reforms in housing supply, planning, and investment strategy. Upgrading water and sewerage alone cannot resolve the crisis without meaningful policy action on the broader housing system. – Yours, etc,
EMMA SMITH,
Milltown,
Dublin 14.
Brain fog and a United Ireland
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole maintains that there is a brain fog in the Department of Finance when it comes to the consequences of a united Ireland (“The State is unified on not wanting to talk about unity,” November 11th).
Last weekend while in the wonderful city of Exeter in Devon, I encountered another fog, while attempting to purchase a newspaper using a £10 sterling note from Northern Ireland. It was handed back to me as if it were Monopoly money printed at home.
It could not be accepted because the shop assistant did not recognise the note or hadn’t the authority to recognise Norther Ireland as part of the UK.
We struggle to understand how a united Ireland might work. Last weekend I struggled to understand how the United Kingdom works. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan,
Dublin.
Sir, – After drawing a blank on coverage of the Ireland v New Zealand rugby fixture in Chicago, I was heartened to read in your newspaper that last Saturday’s Ireland v Japan game was being shown on TNT but also RTÉ 2.
I should have known better. Yet again this coverage was withheld in this area. Can anyone from the Irish Rugby Football Union explain why two-thirds of one of the “proud provinces” of Ireland are being denied these broadcasts?
Perhaps the new sports-loving President, Catherine Connolly, can exert some influence to rectify this or is it a pointer as to how “the residents of the six counties” can expect to be treated in the unlikely event of a soon united Ireland?
In the meantime, let us all hope that non-coverage of the two remaining “autumn internationals” may not be seen as a blessed relief if the matches don’t go well. – Yours, etc,
CHRISTOPHER HARTE,
Bangor,
Co Down.
The write stuff
Sir, – I thoroughly agree with recent correspondence regarding the power of writing a letter. I always encouraged my children to write a thank you letter whenever they received a gift. They, in turn, have passed this tradition to my grandchildren. These letters are a joy to receive.
I regularly send my grandchildren postcards. They enjoy receiving them almost as much as I enjoy sending them. – Yours, etc,
LAURA O’MARA,
Stillorgan
Co Dublin.
Trump and the BBC
Sir, – We can only hope that the resignation of the broadcaster’s director general Tim Davie and its chief executive of news Deborah Turness is not perceived by some to be a victory for censorship or partiality.
World leaders need to be held to account and to a higher standard and not to be in a state of extreme umbrage just because they dislike how they are perceived on a news network. Perhaps US president Donald Trump would do well to remember the words of Oscar Wilde, when he said that “In America, the president reigns for four years, and journalism governs forever and ever.” – Yours, etc,
RONAN BYRNE,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
A simple question of choice
Sir, – I remember being in Crumlin Hospital in Dublin for three weeks in the 1980s when I was child. When it came to tea-time, a nurse came around to ask us what we wanted to eat from that evening’s menu. She presented me with a choice between poached egg, scrambled egg and boiled egg.
I had never ever been presented with a choice by an adult before and what’s more, I remember telling the nurse: “I don’t know what that means.” –Yours, etc,
BARBARA CLANCY,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – On summer holidays with my parents and siblings during the 1980s in Clifden, my Dad, when in a restaurant, asked the waitress what cheese was on their cheese board.
The reply he received was “cheddar, cheddar and cream crackers”. – Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE KENNEDY,
Co Dublin.
Israel and the FAI
Sir, – Now that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has been mandated to call Uefa to ban Israel from all of their competitions, the FAI, as a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland must now call on the International Olympic Committee to ban Israel from competing at global level. – Yours, etc,
KEN McCUE,
Director,
European Department,
Dr HARRY EDWARDS
International Foundation on Sport for Social Good,
Dublin 7.
