Madam, - I am pleased to see that Jimmy Deenihan, TD is concerned with the plight of undocumented Irish immigrants in the US who, despite having "made their lives in the United States, making a valuable contribution to the workforce, marrying and raising children there", cannot "bring their children to visit their parental homeland" for fear of deportation ("TD raises plight of undocumented Irish," The Irish Times, May 21st).
Doesn't Mr Deenihan know that all children born in the United States are US citizens, even those born to illegal Irish immigrants, and as such are free to travel without fear of deportation on their return?
I suppose, however, this means that he will be leading Fine Gael's campaign against the forthcoming citizenship referendum, not least to prevent the very same thing he deplores from happening to the children of undocumented foreigners here? - Yours, etc.,
JOANNE MARIE MANCINI,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Madam - Fine Gael is calling for a Yes vote in the forthcoming citizenship referendum but has decided not to campaign on the issue. However, as a sitting councillor and election candidate of mixed Irish and Indian parentage, I feel it important that Fine Gael should explain its view of the referendum.
Fine Gael is supporting a Yes vote because it protects our citizenship and also upholds the true value and ethos of citizenship. Citizenship is not just a set of rights. It is also a set of obligations to our country and to the State. It is not something that should be lightly bestowed or easily removed. It is right to relieve our over-burdened maternity hospitals. In addition, the proposal protects the health of heavily pregnant women who are encouraged or forced to travel to Ireland late in their pregnancies.
That said, I am appalled at the timing of this referendum, which the Taoiseach admits would not be happening if it was not for the local and European elections. In rushing this referendum, Fianna Fáil and the PDs have undermined the Good Friday Agreement, refused to consult properly with Northern parties and Opposition parties in the Republic and have bypassed the All-Party Committee on the Constitution. This shows disrespect for our Constitution which has served us so well for almost 70 years.
Worst of all, we have been prevented from having a proper debate on this issue and it is very obvious from going around the doors that people are confused about what the change will mean.
I am deeply concerned that this may be an attempt to play the race card in these elections. This would be a new departure in Irish politics and one that would be very bad for all of us, if the Government parties were seen to benefit from it.
These issues deserve proper and calm debate and should not be dealt with in such a cavalier manner. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr LEO VARADKAR,
Roselawn Road,
Dublin 15.
Madam,- In my letter of May 19th, I appealed to those engaged in the referendum debate to "focus on the facts, desist from smearing each other, and endeavour to generate more rational light and less irrational heat".
I therefore call on the Lawyers Against the Citizenship Amendment to withdrawn their irrational and unfounded "warning" that the children of immigrants could face "exclusion" because of "unpopular nationalities or unpopular religions" if the constitutional amendment is approved by the Irish people. This is not supported by a shred of evidence and in no way helps the electorate to reach an informed decision on the central issues: the real and potential abuse of our citizenship laws and the need for any government to uphold the integrity of Irish citizenship, now and in the future. - Yours, etc.,
Dr L.F. LACEY,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - A prominent Sunday paper features a "population crisis": our birth rate is too low, and we won't have enough workers in the future to support our pensioners with their taxes and to fill our jobs. At the same time, we frequently read of the dangers of world overpopulation, and our Government shows a siege mentality when it comes to immigration and wants to restrict citizenship rights.
So, are there too few people or too many? Or is it really a case of "too few of us and too many of them"? When I'm a pensioner, I doubt that I'll care whose taxes support my pension - black, white, permanently tanned, born Irish, naturalised Irish or whatever. Oh for a bit of common sense - never mind charitable thinking. - Yours, etc.,
MAGGIE BLACKLEY,
Gurrane,
Fermoy,
Co Cork.
Madam, - Rebecca Moynihan quotes census figures to disparage the forthcoming referendum. The whole point of so-called citizenship tourism is that mothers (and offspring) do not stay in the country, but claim rights as a result of the birth. Anyway, is she so naïve as to believe the accuracy of figures supplied by "heads of households", who may themselves be illegal immigrants?
The purpose of the referendum is to reduce abuse (by a minority), which should reduce the abuse of the majority of immigrants. - Yours, etc.,
MUIRIS DE BHULBH,
Leixlip,
Co Kildare.