Madam, - The decision by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan to seek a report into the role of the Travellers organisation Pavee Point in the recent Roma controversy is disturbing ( The Irish Times, July 27th). The Minister said he would be concerned if a group receiving State funding was encouraging people "to undermine Irish legislation".
In fact all Pavee Point did was to urge the provision of humanitarian aid to the Roma while their legal position was sorted out. The organisation also quite rightly pointed out that the EU has a responsibility to ensure that Romania treats its Roma minority properly and to give it financial assistance to do so if necessary.
But even if Pavee Point had been urging a change in the immigration laws, would that warrant an investigation by the Minister's officials, with the implied threat to its funding? Does State funding carry an obligation not to criticise or urge changes in Government policy? That would be a sorry day for democracy in Ireland.
Pavee Point and Crosscare are among the only people to emerge with any credit from this sorry affair. They took the view that, whatever about the legalities of their position, people should not be left to starve by the roadside. These groups should not be penalised or intimidated for showing that there is still some humanity left in our society. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL FARRELL, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Madam, - I wonder what lay behind Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan's decision to use a passing-out ceremony at the Garda Training College in Templemore as an opportunity to criticise the voluntary organisation Pavee Point.
It seems a singularly inappropriate moment in which to imply that non-govermental organisations which are not "performing their correct roles" are in danger of losing their funding. Even worse, given his audience, is the suggestion - made without any basis in fact - that the support given by Pavee Point to the Roma community on the M50 amounted to "actively encouraging people who have arrived here to set aside the laws of the State."
Doubtless, as guardians of the peace, the young men and women graduating from Templemore will handle the many difficult situations they will encounter as public servants with compassion and understanding. Their work is complemented by people with energy and a dedication to public service that drives them to work in the voluntary service and highlight injustices where they occur.
If the Government actually believes in encouraging active citizenship, the public service of those in the voluntary sector should be recognised. By offering support and a representative voice to those who are marginalised Pavee Point and other voluntary organisations are performing a valuable public service to us all.
It is vitally important that we allow such organisations to retain their independence. By threatening to remove funding, Mr Lenihan is putting that independence in jeopardy. Criticism of the established structures and legislation does not amount to encouraging people to break or undermine the law, as Mr Lenihan is well aware.
It is therefore wrong for him to encourage young Garda graduates to regard a non-governmental organisation with unwarranted suspicion, just as it is wrong for him to use such a platform to suggest that Government funding depends on support for government policy.
Rather than providing a positive message to the graduating gardaí, his speech was laced with several inappropriate and cynical ones. - Yours, etc,
JOHN HIGGINS, Ontario Terrace, Dublin 6.