Madam, - It is with great concern that we note the humanitarian crisis that has developed at the M50 roundabout, one of the busiest and most dangerous road junctions in the country.
Anyone driving by there will witness over 50 members of the Roma community (the youngest of whom is just six weeks old) trying to survive in conditions that can only be described as inhumane. There is no toilet, no water, no heat, no shelter and no shortage of vermin and desolation.
This group came to Ireland, fleeing persecution and oppression in their own country in the false belief that they would be treated equally to other EU citizens.
They were unaware of new legislation in Ireland restricting access to employment and services here by people from Romania and Bulgaria and they are now in a state of crisis.
The Irish Government cannot and must not stand aside and allow this group of people to continue to suffer in these dangerous and possible life-threatening conditions. - Yours, etc,
Dr JOANNA McMINN, Director, National Women's Council of Ireland, Marlborough Court, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.