Madam, - I agree with Trevor Troy (February 4th) that an open and honest debate on immigration is long overdue. But his conclusion that the absence of such a debate among our public representatives is due to their fear of being pilloried by some pro-multicultural mob is way off the mark.
The real reason for the lack of debate is that this Government has neither the courage nor the vision to put in place a proper immigration policy that would allow us to address the economy's future labour requirements while also allaying the fears of the current population. Instead, the Government is happy to allow the issues of asylum and economic migration to remain confused, while operating a bonded labour system for non-EU nationals that belongs in the 19th century.
One fact on immigration is irrefutable whether people like it or not: immigrants have been a large part of Ireland's economic success story, with many of them doing jobs that Irish people know longer want to do. We will need more immigrants in the future if we are to see economic growth continue.
Immigration can be a very positive influence on a country, both economically and socially, if it is handled properly. If it isn't, as has been the case to date in this country, fear and misinformation flourish and all the focus turns to the demand side of immigration, such as more pressure on schools, hospitals and jobs, while the supply side, such as payment of taxes, contribution to economic growth through spending, etc., is totally ignored.
So let's have a debate on immigration. I for one believe that it can only be to the benefit of the non-Irish population living in this country who have been treated so far as a temporary underclass with no rights to any long-term future in Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
KEVIN WINDLE, Glencairn Heights, Dublin 18.