Sir, - I must thank Padraig O'Morain for his trenchant article (Opinion, November 11th) on the curiously "muted response" of politicians and citizens alike to the recent temporary closure of the Refugee Application Centre in Dublin. If we consider ourselves a people with an understanding of the emigrant experience, we should reflect on how the State, in our name, treats immigrants from other countries.
It is fair to say that many people perform individual acts of generosity that ameliorate the conditions of the poor and unlucky in Ireland. It is also, I trust, fair to say that our government makes an effort to provide help and shelter to refugees and others who need it, and that the personnel who work in the Refugee Application Centre give of their best. However, the arguments in favour of a new policy to provide better and prompter treatment of refugees' cases are strong ones:
Many refugees endured great privation to travel thousands of miles to Ireland, and urgently need stability in their lives;
Many are escaping from strife-torn countries;
Many Irish people have done likewise - emigrating to Britain, America and elsewhere - for generations;
Many Irish employers currently decry the shortage of labour in this country.
It is easy for me to type this letter and hold forth my opinions: words, as they say, are cheap. But compassion and history aside, there are solid economic advantages to expediting the asylum-seeking process. On humanitarian grounds, refugees need our help. On historical grounds, refugees merit our help. On economic grounds refugees can be of help. Is there more to say? - Yours, etc.,
David Handy, Booterstown, Co Dublin.