Sir, – For some time now I have noted a tendency by The Irish Times to highlight the conditions of direct provision for asylum seekers and more generally to advocate for greater openness in the treatment of migrants of all categories into Ireland. Laudable as it may be in general terms to underscore the protection of the human rights of all who land on our shores through whatever means, I cannot but be very disappointed at the failure to even discuss the case for limits on migration, as the great majority of "mature" first world nations now do. It is almost as if once again Ireland wants to pretend that this is a global trend that we as a small "friendly" nation can somehow ignore or cope with, no matter what the scale.
It would seem reasonable to expect The Irish Times would provide a balanced forum to debate what is fundamentally a key public policy with the most profound social and financial consequences for the years ahead. Nor is it sufficient to occasionally publish the odd disgruntled missive from an outlier to the argument.
In the absence of informed, rational voices with enough expertise or courage to comment on this matter here at home, then please locate those analysts from other countries who might provide factual evidence upon which may be advanced alternative theses on the desirability or otherwise for future policy development on migration.
Ireland provides a route to a passport far less onerous than most other countries.
Contrary to popular discourse in the media, a strong argument can be made that the essential cohesion of nation state societies needs the glue of cultural homogeneity to some degree. Otherwise as can be seen in Britain to a large extent, we are nothing more than a collection of economic units operating entirely alone within delineated class structures designed to funnel the allocation of wealth, status and capital. Perhaps Ireland has gone down that road already but others will argue that aspects of our culture are still distinct, but will only remain so for as long as our ethnicity remains intact, vibrant and different to the rest of the world. Can sociologists not discuss this on your pages?
Certain parts of Dublin (such as Lucan, Tallaght, Blanchardstown and some inner-city areas) now carry the greatest burden by far of coping with inflows of immigrants.
The consequences are easily seen from similar patterns that have occurred in other jurisdictions, with all the attendant social outcomes. Interesting indeed in this vein, to note from your poll coverage recently, is that Sinn Féin voters were counted among those most in favour of the preservation of direct provision, running counter to the dogma of open border republicanism preached by the leadership of that party.
Ireland might not need a right-wing party as seen in almost every other EU nation to legitimately represent a minority view in this context but it most certainly needs mainstream politicians and national media publications to present all sides of the argument in a reasoned and balanced discourse, and to address adequately the strong concerns of what may be a significant silent majority. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’RIORDAN,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.