Sir, - I was somewhat taken aback by D K Henderson's letter (November 9th) in which he claims that we "expats" (or "foreigners" in his book) chose to "abandon Ireland". I would like to draw Mr Henderson's attention to the fact that the vast majority of emigrants have little choice but to leave Ireland. In search of employment most of them, in settling elsewhere, have to muster up great courage and to face loneliness and, all too often, prejudice.
Those of us who reside in Switzerland may well be of the opinion that it is Ireland which has abandoned us. An article in Le Nouveau Quotidien (November 30th, 1993), entitled "The Forgotten Foreigners", pointed out that Ireland was the only EU country to have no bilateral agreement with Switzerland concerning retirement pension schemes (putting us on a footing with Chile and Hungary). Should they wish to return to Ireland and still be able to benefit from the pension plans into which they have paid, Irish workers in Switzerland have two choices to stay in Switzerland, or to become Swiss and reside in Ireland (this latter begs the question would they be allowed to vote?).
However, both my local TDs and the Irish Embassy in Berne assured me that the Irish Government had the matter in hand and that I would be informed as soon as any developments were made. That was three years ago, and I have heard nothing. But then, neither I nor my 800 compatriots in Switzerland have the right to vote. So, what's the rush? - Yours, etc.,
Rue de Chailly 22, 1814 Clarens/Montreux, Switzerland.