DICK ROCHE TD,
Sir, - In reply to Anthony Coughlan's letter on the free movement of people in the European Union, and without pausing to question his motives, there are a few points that require to be made.
Firstly, freedom of movement within the EU is a fundamental principle of the Union. It is a principle from which Irish people have benefited in less prosperous times. Our partners in Europe have welcomed Irish people, and the contribution they have made, with open arms.
It is a principle from which Ireland will benefit in the future. As the Forfás submission to the National Forum on Europe shows, access to the larger pool of labour and skills which enlargement will bring will be to Ireland's advantage.
This will be important to this country in the future because of changing demographic trends. In the short term, the availability of largely young, skilled workers from many of the candidate countries is already making a valuable contribution to the Irish economy.
Secondly, free movement is a principle to which all of our current and future partners are firmly committed. Along with Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, Ireland has indicated our intention to apply the principle of free movement in full to our new partners from day one of their accession, because it is right to do so and also because it is in our broad economic interest. We understand that others will opt for a short period of transition. For the first two years, member-states may make special arrangements.
Ireland does not expect any problems to arise, but should they do so we retain the ability, like every member-state, to take steps to address them. During this time, the Commission will review how matters are developing and will report at the end of the period. At that stage, members which wish to impose any restrictions can continue to do so for a period of up to three years, having informed the Commission of their reasons. After these five years, and only if it can be demonstrated that serious disturbances have occurred in a labour market, could restrictions be retained for a further two years.
Thirdly, Anthony Coughlan says he would welcome citizens of the new member-states to Ireland after seven years. Why not from when they join? There is no reason to believe, as he suggests, that large numbers of workers will wish to come. The same concerns were raised in the past when Spain, Portugal and Greece joined the EU and the argument was invalid then; there is no reason to believe it is more valid now. Citizens of candidate countries can already apply to work here and it is worth noting that of the 20,000 work permits issued this year, only 7,045 have gone to such applicants. Of these, over 2,700 were renewals of existing permits.
Fourthly, if people from the new member-states work and pay tax here, they will be subject to exactly the same protections and requirements as currently apply to all workers. Contrary to what Anthony Coughlan suggests, they will not immediately qualify for Irish social welfare benefits. Like citizens from all member-states, they will be able to bring payments from their own countries with them, but until they have built up the necessary credits, they will not be entitled to Irish benefits.
It is simply unacceptable that Mr Coughlan and some of his supporters continually seek to raise false anxieties and fears in order to bolster or support Mr Coughlan's long-standing thesis that Ireland should not be fully involved in Europe. One wonders whether his views are shared by the other opponents of Nice. At the National Forum on Europe and elsewhere, many of Mr Coughlan's allies have criticised as too restrictive the very arrangements which Mr Coughlan is now recommending for Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
Dick Roche TD,
Minister of State
with Special Responsibility
for European Affairs,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.
Sir, - Frank Barr and Anthony Coughlan (July 9th) perform a useful public service by drawing attention to the spectacular U-turn made by certain opponents of the Nice Treaty since the last referendum.
We were told constantly in the last referendum by No campaigners that they supported enlargement, which had nothing to do with the Nice Treaty. But now Mr Barr denounces Proinsias De Rossa for ignoring issues of vital concern to Irish voters, namely the prospect of significant immigration to Ireland after enlargement "should the Nice Treaty be ratified".
Indeed, he raises the spectre of "75 million Eastern European citizens" enjoying free entry to a small number of EU states including Ireland. Evidently, huge numbers of these 75 million East Europeans are expected to bolt for Ireland at the first opportunity after enlargement.
This is simply nationalistic arrogance run riot. It seems to be a modern version of the traditional Catholic view of Ireland as a target for godless Communism during the Cold War. Is it beyond Mr Barr's comprehension that East European citizens may wish to join the EU to improve their economic prospects at home? Is it not possible that they may wish to improve their living standards in Warsaw and Prague, rather than sampling the delights of Dublin's high prices?
It is only the extreme right throughout Europe who stand to benefit if misleading propaganda about immigration is used to influence the Irish debate on the Nice Treaty. - Yours, etc.,
John Walsh,
Dunshaughlin,
Co Meath.
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Sir, - We are a small nation, a small island on the fringe of Europe. Our land mass and our resources are extremely limited. How, then, are we to cope, with any degree of comfort, with more immigrants seeking employment and seeking a future? Does anyone think of the long-term effects this will have on all concerned? In all honesty we cannot hope to meet these demands.
If and when the EU enlarges, we shall still remain a small nation. Further down the line, if the management and government of the EU become the prerogative of the larger nations, how will we fare, perhaps without a Commissioner and with little or no representatives at Government level?
There are many grey areas in this debate that have not been completely explored. So, when in doubt, there is only one way to vote. The Government has already been given the answer. - Yours, etc.,
H.J. Beckett,
Green Road,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
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Sir, - I note in recent media reports that farm leaders have warned the Government that it will be an uphill struggle to get farmers to vote in favour of the Nice Treaty unless the widespread disillusionment in rural Ireland is addressed.
I presume it will also be an uphill struggle to get public servants to vote in favour of the Nice Treaty unless their disillusionment with the benchmarking report is addressed. - Yours, etc.,
Denis O'Brien,
Ramleh Close,
Milltown,
Dublin 6.
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Sir, - If we all vote Yes to Nice, will we get European weather? - Yours, etc.,
CHARLES MOORE,
Moorefort,
Lattin,
Co Tipperary.