Madam, - In commenting that one-tenth of the State's population was immigrant, Minister of State Séamus Brennan has remarked on the importance of foreigners owing a loyalty to Irish culture as well as to their own countries (The Irish Times, December 27th).
But loyalty is a two-way street. We let our non-EU immigrants down when they register annually for their compulsory Garda National Immigration Bureau card, or "green card".
This used to be issued free, with minimum restrictions; since May 2006 there is now an extortionate annual charge of €100 (a 10-year passport costs €75). The GNIB does not accept cash, only payment by credit card or bank giro.
Applicants must also show their latest bank statement despite it being nearly impossible for a non-EU national to own an Irish bank account. Very many of the lower-paid immigrants do not have any bank account. Also, before a card is issued immigrants must have proof of having private health insurance - which many do not have.
The GNIB's office in Dublin is chaotic, with few of the 20 service hatches ever open, so applicants have to take a day off work to queue to apply. The office has a published closing time of 10pm. On the two nights I was there it closed between 7.30pm and 8pm, turning many people away.
Finally, it is obvious from the attitude of some of the gardaí working in the GNIB that they dislike this work and the customers they deal with. Their distain makes the expensive and torturous process unnecessarily unpleasant.
If the Minister wishes to prevent a swell of unrecorded and undocumented immigrants, it is essential the valuable "green card" is available cheaply, without impossible conditions, and that the GNIB operates in a professional, customer-focused manner. - Yours, etc,
JOHN DEVLIN, Erne Terrace, Dublin 2.