Sir, – Further to “The Irish Times view on Sinn Féin’s new refugee policy: protecting its flank” (July 23rd), while the political support of fervent traditional nationalists has been a given for Sinn Féin for generations, more recently political analysts identify two other groups who have adopted the party.
One is a working-class demographic who are often concerned with the provision of State services, and are often urban. The other are a younger group, frequently regarded as progressives.
In international political trends of polarisation, the former are tending toward a right wing, closed borders outlook, with the latter seen as left wing nowadays, favouring diversity and inclusiveness. It was remarkable that until recently the party seemed able to accommodate these seemingly divergent views. However, the latest polls and council elections suggest that chameleon capacity has failed them.
The policy shift noted in the July 24th editorial is a risk but probably accurately recognises the realpolitik. Combining what are now seen as firm-right and left-wing attitudes is unfeasible. Prioritising the group who favour stricter border controls over idealistic progressives is a gamble for a party who are overtly sceptical of our own Border’s existence. And given the party’s rhetorical style – generally implying that problems are in fact very simple, with solutions that only require common sense – articulating this nuanced view will be tricky. They might soon be faced with the Yeats question as they shift emphasis from their left to the right flank – can the centre hold? – Yours, etc,
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BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.
Sir, – There is extensive coverage of Sinn Féin’s new policy on provision of accommodation for international protection applicants, including in your editorial.
The policy boils down to locating such accommodation in areas that don’t vote Sinn Féin.
This reminds me of my days as a political activist in east London. During times of cost pressure, we would announce a stoppage of mowing grass verges in order to move staff to other areas of council activity. In reality this only affected Tory voting areas of the borough as Labour houses didn’t have the luxury of public green space outside them.
It’s good to see political cynicism is alive and well in modern Ireland! – Is mise,
KENNETH HARPER,
Burtonport,
Co Donegal.
A chara, – Maybe it should be obligatory for estate agents to “consult” the local community when offering a property for sale – just in case some of them might be unhappy with its future use, but not giving them a veto, of course. – Yours, etc,
NOEL HUSTON,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, – Given our current infrastructure problems, especially in housing, is it not incumbent on all political parties to clearly set out their immigration policy ahead of the next general election?
It is worth bearing in mind that neither asylum or immigration has been discussed by the body politic since the 2002 general election, when all agreed not to discuss either topic for fear of stoking racism. This was followed by the poorly thought-out decision to opt into the EU’s free movement directive with immediate effect from May 1st, 2004, when the EU expanded by 10 states, rather than hold off for some of the seven years permitted. The upshot was a population increase of 200,000 in four years as, unsurprisingly, people flocked to a booming economy.
Given the current troubled state of much of the planet, it may be advisable to take stock of where we are going as a nation in the complex areas of immigration and international protection, as future social cohesion may well hinge on it. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL FLYNN,
Bayside,
Dublin 13.