Sir, - I wish to take issue with your report in The Irish Times (November 26th) in which Deputy Ivor Callely allegedly targeted "rogue" asylum seekers. May I point out to him that it is exactly such utterances which, back in the 1930s, heralded the beginning of persecution and extermination of people in Germany. Of course, Callely is too young to remember and he seems to have missed some important history lessons.
The "Celtic Tiger" bubble (brought about by multinationals and handouts from the rest of Europe) seems to have affected the heads of some people. It is only just a decade ago, when thousands of Irish economic refugees left the shores of this island at the rate of up to 40,000 per annum and it is not known how many "rogues" were among them.
The "Celtic Tiger syndrome" has now become a metaphor for affluence and a symbol of arrogance which has blunted the memory of people such as Ivor Callely. If he has no other (more useful) contribution to make to Irish politics he ought to stay put on the backbenches forever and keep his mouth shut. - Yours, etc.,
Inagh, Co Clare.