Sir, - The invasion of the foreigners, predominantly Spanish and Italian, learning to speak English (the Irish way) has reached mind-boggling proportions. What is disheartening is their attitude. For example:
1. They move in shoals, unmanageable groups. Chattering at deafening decibels, they crowd into shops, choke entrances and take over the pavements. It is almost impossible to get inside shops in the Blackrock arcade.
2. They have no concept of queues. At bus stops and the DART stations they surge into the transport without thought for the elderly or physically impaired. This is stressful for those of us who take public transport to and from work. Nowadays some buses are so full of foreign students that we cannot get on even at the terminus.
3. They insist on sitting in groups and never give their seat to the elderly, women with babies or physically handicapped passengers.
4. Politeness seems to have been left behind in their own country; they push, shove, elbow and stamp on toes with no word of apology. Even in their own language, please, thank you, excuse me, will be intelligible, as any courtesy is.
5. They litter. Look outside any fast food outlet and see if this isn't true. They eat in the buses, DART and on the pavements, littering as they go. (In this case the Irish youth can share the blame too.)
Is it too much to ask that the organisations which enrol these students give them an orientation course on what is acceptable and courteous in Ireland?
This will go a long way to their welcome and our hospitality. - Yours, etc., P. Quinn,
Stillorgan, Co Dublin.