Sir, – The migrant crisis in Italy deserves a response from the other countries of the EU, and Ireland is no exception. It is not acceptable that the convenience of Italy’s shores allows many in the EU to turn their back but we can choose to do otherwise.
In 2015, the response of the Government to the deadly migration and refugee crisis in the Mediterranean was to send the LÉ Eithne on a rescue mission. There is little doubt that the Naval Service has saved many lives in the intervening period. However, we now need to do more; rescuing people from the sea and putting them ashore in Italy, a country that is overwhelmed in trying to meet the humanitarian needs of the refugees, is not enough.
An Irish-flagged vessel on the high seas is reasonably considered Irish territory. Therefore, let’s uphold the best traditions of Ireland and Europe and in future, when people are rescued by an Irish naval vessel, they are brought ashore, then on to the nearest airport, and flown to Ireland without delay. If we cannot provide the aircraft, I’m sure that Italy would be more than willing to assist.
It isn’t good enough that we save men, women, and children, families fleeing the horrors of war and starvation, and then use the convenience of geography to make them Italy’s responsibility. They should be ours; indeed, they must be ours. Only then can we truly claim to have rescued them. – Yours, etc,
T GERARD BENNETT,
Bunbrosna, Co Westmeath.