THOMAS KELLY,
Madam, - The recent Supreme Court ruling on "immigrant residency" is more profoundly a ruling on the nature of Irish citizenship. Prior to the ruling it had been generally thought that a citizen of this State was entitled to reside in the State. In the case of infants the decision to exercise the entitlement is taken on their behalf by their parents.
The citizen's entitlement to reside in the State is an entitlement with respect to the State and the State had been thought to have the corresponding obligation to allow the exercise of the entitlement. Never until now has the State been thought to be entitled to disallow its exercise.
Ireland has now entitled itself to deport some of its citizens. I find this disgusting. - Yours, etc.,
Prof. GARRETT BARDEN,
Duke's Mill,
Tallow,
Co Waterford.
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Madam, - Congratulations to Kevin Myers for airing his opinions on asylum seekers that so many fear to utter in this country, for fear of being called a racist. I am not usually in agreement with Mr Myers views, but this time he was spot-on in assessing the recent Supreme Court decision.
By all means give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, but please leave your gangsters, conmen and shysters at home. As many recent court rulings have showed, we have enough of these of our own. - Yours etc.
THOMAS KELLY,
The Maples,
Bird Avenue,
Clonskeagh,
Dublin.
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Madam, - In view of the decision of the Supreme Court last week should we now consider amending our Constitution to include some protected rights for our children after birth. Might I suggest, as a starting point, the right to the society of their parents (whether or not they are of Irish nationality). - Yours, etc.,
RACHEL ANDREWS,
Lissadell,
Ballinfull,
Co Sligo