Madam, - It is probably no coincidence that Kate Holmquist's article "Poles Apart" (Weekend Review, April 2nd), on the contribution of Polish workers to the Irish economy and society, appeared on a day that ended with the world mourning a Pole who contributed greatly to the global society, and when all eyes turned to the country which produced this extraordinary man.
There is one aspect of Polish life in Ireland she omitted to mention. While Polish workers contribute through PAYE and PRSI from day one, if social assistance payments are needed during their first two years in Ireland, they are not entitled to one cent of that contribution.
We have already been told of the case of the Polish workers travelling for three days across Europe in a minibus to face destitution in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. But for the humanity of the hostel manager, we probably would never have heard of them. Unfortunately, they are not alone, and circumstances such as this are unlikely to improve, given the level of work-place exploitation reported by trade union and migrant organisations.
As a country, we should be ashamed of ourselves to have the brass neck to invite and welcome Poles and citizens of the other accession states into our places of employment and communities because we need their assistance to develop economically; but if those employment or community systems fail them we refuse to assist them. Surely this state of affairs is a world away from the Christian values of social justice and inclusion preached by the late Polish citizen, Pope John Paul II.
Would it not be a timely gesture, on our behalf, and in memory of Pope John Paul II, for the Government to reverse these stingy and dishonourable measures and extends a genuine céad míle fáilte to migrant workers? - Yours, etc.,
ORLA O'NEILL, Sunnyhill, Kilcullen, Co Kildare.