Sir, - Andy Pollak charts the cancerous growth of racism in Irish society. He does not, however, note the connection between the accelerated rise of overt racism in Ireland and the stringent anti-immigrant stance adopted by the Irish Government.
Apart from the mis-named Immigration Bill 1999, currently before the Dail, the Irish Government is intent on introducing even more draconian anti-immigrant legislation. The Immigration Bill is mis-titled as it aims to facilitate the removal of non-Irish nationals from Ireland and not the entry of immigrants into Ireland. The new legislative measures under consideration include the denial of citizenship to the Irish-born children of immigrants without residency in Ireland; compelling social welfare and public health workers to act as immigration agents by reporting those who seek services without proper papers; and the replacement of cash supplementary welfare payments by a voucher system. Such proposals clearly demonstrate the very negative attitude of the Department of Justice towards those seeking to build new lives in our country.
Through concentrating almost exclusively on the cost of asylum-seekers to the Irish Exchequer, issuing statements that suggest the bogus nature of most application for asylum even before they are processed, and the continued denial of the right to work, the Department has effectively cast asylum-seekers in the very dangerous role of undeserving economic migrants intent on defrauding unsuspecting Irish taxpayers. Couple this with the association of asylum-seekers with crime and the housing shortage by sections of the Irish media and it is hardly surprising that incidents of racist abuse and attack are increasing. In these circumstances it is difficult to avoid concluding that the Department bears a large part of the responsibility for the accelerated rise of overt racism and intolerance in Ireland.
Lastly, Andy Pollak's article, while good in its depiction of increased racism, lacks balance by failing to mention the growing anti-racism/pro-immigrant movement in Ireland. Last month the National Federation of Campaigns Against Racism was launched. The federation comprises 10 groups campaigning against racism and for immigrant rights in Ireland in Ireland, and the affiliated organisations include the main asylum-seeker associations in this country.
As yet the federation remains unfunded, without its own premises, and dependent upon voluntary activists who give of their own time and resources. The federation is not attached to any political party and does not seek to represent any one political viewpoint. Instead, it aims to co-ordinate activities nationally and, given its wide geographical spread was surely worthy of a mention. Failing to do so only encourages those spurred on by shameful Department of Justice propaganda into giving vent to their racism in the mistaken belief that there are no opposing voices. - Yours, etc., Pat Guerin,
National Federation of Campaigns Against Racism, Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2.