Below is a broadly representative sample of readers' letters, e-mails and online comments received recently on the general topic of migration. Some letters have been edited
It [ immigration] has brought the country into a multicultural ghetto. Irish people are slipping into a minority group within their own country. The immigrant population is now in the region of 12 per cent. What's it going to be like in 10 years' time - 30 per cent?
How long will it take for politicians to realise that immigration cannot be ignored at election times, especially when it's coming up on the doorsteps. If politicians are committed to working for the people, then surely they can demonstrate this by addressing immigration rather than running away from it.
Jack, Ireland
Regardless of one's views on immigration, it should have been highlighted by all the parties and candidates. It was an elephant in the room during the campaign.
Conor Ryan, Ireland
Why has the Government kept quiet on the travails of the non-national parents of Irish-born children? Why are children who carry the Irish passport living in abject poverty in hostels all over Ireland? Why did [ Michael] McDowell challenge the decision of the High Court to grant their parents leave to remain? Until these issues are resolved, Fianna Fáil will only be seen to be paying lip service to the rights of the child.
Lanre Olujitan, Ireland
Everyone is afraid to talk about immigration because if you speak about your genuine fears and the mistakes that have been made you are almost afraid of sounding racist. Racism doesn't enter into it - I do believe that allowing the eastern Europeans work here has benefited the country. I have no problem with that.
However, regarding the asylum process, I honestly believe this was the biggest con job ever. The only reason these people claimed asylum was based on economic reasons and that is not right for the genuine, hard-working people of Ireland. There is only a very small percentage of these people who are genuine. There are a lot of people who feel exactly the same, with genuine fears.
Lou, Ireland
You would not have experienced the export of over a million people from Ireland between 1979 and 1994.
My five children were born in the '60s. There were no grants for third-level education by the time they arrived at university.
Three out of four of them were university graduates. We, the parents, made the usual sacrifices to help them do that.
By 1982 three of four had emigrated - the eldest, with a postgrad degree in economics, could not even find work at the petrol stations. The fourth son went to the US without a work permit. No one wept over the loss of our kids, and certainly no one gave them anything resembling pocket money or dole.
By 1986 the country was on its knees and when the Tallaght strategy was put in place to preclude strikes, this favoured only those who were in work and unionised. I, as a teacher in a non-statutory job for over 10 years, lost my teaching hours. My husband lost his contract. Everything resembling private enterprise died.
My heart does not bleed for the immigrants here. My heart lost that capacity 20 years ago. You are one of the fortunate generation who never experienced a severe recession. That does nothing to assuage the anger I feel about the departure of our "brightest and best", which tore the heart out of Irish parents as they watched them take the mail boat in the '70s, '80s and '90s.
Please try not to confuse your readers with concern about refugees (I do personally care about them) while most of us are dismayed by the dilution factor of one in 10 which you tell us is the case.
Name and address supplied
Migration should be and in my opinion is an election issue. Immigration has helped Ireland greatly. People coming to Ireland to work legally are a great boost for our economy. Now is the time to successfully control immigration and in my opinion we have come to the stage where we can do this in such a way as to benefit our economy.
Patrick McKee, Ireland
The census returns are obviously badly flawed. According to the figures, there are 10,000 Chinese living here! Why is there no political outcry about this incompetence?
Joe, Ireland
I'd like to highlight the hypocrisy of the Irish Government in its policies towards a group of people who are here legally. While the spouses of taxpaying EU citizens are here legally, they are denied their full rights to work and residency as legislated by EU treaties. Here Mr Ahern goes to Washington to plead the case for 50,000 law-breaking, non-taxpaying Irishmen who have overstayed their welcome!
Gabe, Ireland
My view is the view of the overwhelming majority of Irish people. The State needs to establish strict quotas on immigration into the country. Failure to do so will totally destroy Irish culture, language and way of life. Look at the mess in France, Britain, the Netherlands, Germany.
Charlie Reynolds, USA