A chara, - The disgraceful actions of the management of Irish Ferries and the supine attitude of the Government has highlighted yet again the need for all Irish employees to join relevant trade unions. It seems that a growing number of employers in this country are orchestrating a campaign to force a cut in the minimum wage by claiming that Irish workers are "feather-bedded" and have somehow priced themselves out of the market. This has been the mantra of greedy employers for generations.
The fact is that very few of these employers are prepared to open their books to scrutiny to prove their case, and until they do the assumption must be that they are being greedy for profits rather than being genuinely strapped for cash. Of course none of these employers and senior managers have to struggle for their families to survive on the minimum income.
How can Irish Ferries claim to be Irish when it is seeking to sack Irish workers? And how can a Fianna Fáil government claim nationalist credentials whilst allowing this outrage to happen? - Yours, etc,
TOM WHITE, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.
Madam, - As one who campaigned publicly and actively against the adoption of the Nice Treaty and the consequences of allowing vast numbers of eastern Europeans to come and work in Ireland when most other European countries were placing restrictions on them doing so, might I have the dubious pleasure of saying "I told you so" regarding the Irish Ferries dispute?
The Taoiseach says the the Government can do no more regarding Irish Ferries. Might I suggest that it could, like practically all the older members of the EU, immediately retrict the right of eastern Europeans to work in Ireland. - Yours, etc,
FRANK BARR, Glasnevin Woods, Dublin 11.