Madam, - It was with great regret that I read the comments from Dr Alan Barrett of the ESRI urging the Government to limit access to Ireland next year by immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria. To do so is contrary to one of the fundamental principles upon which the EU has thrived - the free movement of human capital between states. While I acknowledge that other EU countries have far less of an open-door policy, to start installing "bouncers" at the nation's doors is a step towards a regressive, protectionist mindset.
Increasing economic migration, which Ireland has been experiencing over the past decade, is the sign of a maturing economy and our focus in future should be to ensure that our educational and industrial policies continue to afford Irish people access to higher-value opportunities, thus ensuring that job displacement at the lower end of the employment spectrum is not an issue.
Living in Canada, I daily experience the positive economic and social benefits brought about by immigration. Forty-nine per cent of Toronto's population was born outside Canada and over 100 languages and dialects are spoken here.
While immigration on this scale brings with it a myriad of challenges, Ireland is going to remain a multicultural society whether we like it or not. The question should not be how we might restrict access, but rather on how we use this trend for maximum economic and social benefit. - Yours, etc,
Dr ANITA M SANDS, Toronto, Canada.
Madam, - The view expressed by the ESRI, among others, on the need to restrict the right to work of future Bulgarian immigrants to Ireland is an interesting one.
Do I take it we can expect calls from the same commentators to restrict the rights of Irish investors to buy property in Bulgaria? One can hardly pass a hotel, conference centre, or in some cases even rural roundabouts without seeing some advertisement for the opportunity for Irish investors to make "huge capital appreciation" in Bulgarian property investment.
We can own your houses and act as your absentee landlords - but don't you dare come and work here to earn the money to send home to pay for the houses we put beyond your own people's reach.
Delightful. Sure aren't we great Europeans? - Yours, etc,
JAMES CONNINGTON, Stannaway Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12.