Sir, - Residents in Rosslare and Pembroke Road, Dublin should be ashamed of themselves. Who do these people think they are, denying asylum-seekers accommodation in their protected, exclusive areas? What has this country come to and what kind of power do people think they can exert on others, especially the more vulnerable members of our society? And why are people not accepting the international responsibility that our Government has signed up to?
It is our duty, not our choice to protect asylum-seekers, and as part of our duty to provide a safe environment for these people we have to provide the basics, at the very least. These basics include housing. It is not our right to decide what areas these people should or should not live in. It all boils down to the same issues that keep recurring with other minorities in Ireland: their suitability to live in specific areas depends on their colour and on their position on the class ladder. The only words to describe this behaviour are racism, ignorance and snobbery. The gap between the rich and poor of this country exposes itself once again. - Yours, etc.,
Brenda Gallagher, Sackville Gardens, Ballybough, Dublin 3.