Sir, - It is timely that the experience of thousands of Irish immigrants who travelled to the US has been honoured in the recent presentation of a gift by the Taoiseach to the UN. "Arrival", the beautiful bronze sculpture of an immigrant ship, symbolises the capacity of the human spirit to rise above adversity and make good. Having claimed our place on the international stage, one could say we had indeed arrived.
However, if in time to come the asylum seekers who have arrived on our shores were to produce a work of art to express their experience in our country, one wonders what image would convey their reality. The treatment of asylum seekers in Ireland is far from enlightened and betrays a short memory of our emigrant past. In many cases those who attempt to come here in pursuit of a life free from trauma and persecution do not get the opportunity to make application for asylum. Those who do gain entry are subjected to a dehumanising and humiliating system of direct provision and £15 pocket money per week. This system when continued over a length of time has serious effects on the morale of asylum seekers.
In view of the Taoiseach's recent gesture we would ask that the arrival and integration of asylum seekers is marked by a humane and fair response. Further, we would like to see asylum seekers encouraged to enrich our country by being given the right to work even on a temporary basis after six months from the time of making their application for asylum.
We look forward to the day when the arrival of asylum seekers to Ireland is no longer viewed as a threat, but rather a celebration of diversity in our midst. - Yours etc.,
Ann Scully,
Mary De Largy, Sheila O'Gorman,
May Lynam,
Suzanne Ryder,
Justice Mercy Office, O'Connell Street, Limerick.