Sir, - The trend of recent developments in the policy of the Irish Government towards asylum-seekers is disturbing. Fingerprinting and food vouchers offend human dignity. They carry a message of suspicion, coldness and contempt. The underlying idea is to make the experience of applying for asylum in Ireland so degrading that people will stay away.
This is an ignoble policy, particularly when one thinks of Ireland's history, its present wealth and the human nightmares in Europe and Africa which have led people to seek asylum here. - Yours, etc.,
William Binchy, Regius Professor of Laws, Trinity College, Dublin 2.