Sir, - I write in reaction to the report (The Irish Times, November 13th) regarding Mr Tom Kitt's comments about the need to attract skilled immigrants from Eastern Europe with a view to solving the urgent labour shortages in Ireland.
I am Nigerian, working in the information technology industry in the mid-west region, and I have seen the negative effect of recent labour shortages on my company and other enterprises in this part of the country.
It is well known that the recent phenomenal growth of the Irish economy cannot be sustained with labour shortages in vital industries.
To my knowledge there are many highly qualified and highly skilled Nigerians (who speak fluent English) who would be willing to travel and work in Ireland for a couple of years. Unfortunately, despite the favourable comments from Government Ministers, the practicalities of a suitably skilled Nigerian fulfilling current visa and work permit regulations are daunting. Such skilled immigrants would not be entitled to any social welfare benefits and accordingly would be not be a burden on the Irish taxpayer in any way. For instance, presently there are several Nigerian doctors working all over Ireland in various hospitals.
In my view there is an urgent need for the Government to liberalise the present visa and work permit regulations to facilitate the recruitment of skilled and highly qualified immigrants from countries such as Nigeria. To avoid a repetition of the present confusion at the Refugee Application Centre in Dublin, recruitment of skilled immigrants should be done in conjunction with Irish embassies abroad. The value of skilled immigrants is quite apparent in the economic success of the United States, where over a century of Irish immigration has been immensely beneficial. - Yours, etc.,
Ayo Akande, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick.