A chara, – I would like to reassure John Waters (Opinion, May 27th) that I saw Enda Kenny speak at College Green, recognised the preamble and knew it was a tribute. Of course, I didn’t need to say it at the time. – Is mise,
Madam, – If you look at Enda Kenny’s speech you will see President and Michelle Obama walk on stage exactly on cue as Mr Kenny adds, “When President Barack Obama and his First Lady, Michelle Obama came to visit” after the 40 borrowed words. That does not happen by accident, it was choreographed; both men knew exactly what was going to be said and what the cue was. When Barack arrived on stage, he clapped Enda on the back, he was beaming from ear to ear, he was laughing and was clearly chuffed at how his words were borrowed so cleverly and received so well by the crowd.
Mr Kenny’s introduction was a masterstroke. The remainder of his speech was inspiring. He used the platform to invite all Irish-Americans home and assured them that they would get a great welcome. I have never heard such passion or seen such a connection with the people from any taoiseach.
At last, I believe, we have a leader in Enda Kenny. Those who seek to belittle the speech are begrudgers, little gombeen men who want to go back to the inarticulate, nod-and-a-wink speeches of a past era. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I note the expressions of disappointment over difficulties and discomfort at the President Obama event on College Green (Home News, May 25th).
I found it incredible that people who queued for hours, many with young children, were denied access or experienced pushing and shoving, when your photos of the event showed Government Ministers, political party workers and others standing with ample comfort in a special enclosure at the front of the stage.
May I suggest that in future, we ensure that children and young people are given access to such enclosures? This is a Republic, after all. It is time that citizens took the driving seat. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Tá an fear is cáiliúla ar domhan tar éis filleadh ar a bhaile dúchais in Éirinn! Agus é ag labhairt le muintir na tíre, d’úsáid sé teanga dhúchais na tíre dhá uair agus blas breá aige freisin! “Tá áthas orm bheith in Éirinn” agus “is féidir linn”. Níl aon ghalltanas ag baint le Muine Gall, ba chóir dúinn é a athainmniú in a onóir: as seo amach, Muine Gael! – Is mise,
Madam, – This week Barack Obama graced the shores of Ireland to visit his ancestral home in Moneygall, Co Offaly. In his public address, President Obama repeatedly spoke of the warm welcome he received. Indeed, he – like many Irish-Americans before him – was welcomed home to Ireland with open arms by both politicians and society at large.
Unfortunately, as the recent Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) publication on applying for Irish citizenship highlights, this is not the case for migrants who came to Ireland during the boom years and can only half-heartedly call Ireland home as they wait for unjustifiably long periods to be granted this right. Indeed the luxury of becoming an Irish citizen depends on Ministerial discretion and a decision may be revoked at any time without clear indication of the grounds for that decision. The report highlights a number of injustices in the Irish system, such as the lack of a permanent long-term residence status as well as the lack of an independent appeals mechanism.
Thus, despite keeping up appearances with our Atlantic neighbours that we’re all a little bit Irish, it would seem that the Irish system prevents rather than promotes the acquisition of citizenship. In the words of President Obama’s speech, it is time that we accepted that, like our counterparts across the Atlantic, we are becoming “a nation of immigrants from all around the world” and we must recognise and protect the rights of migrants who contribute so richly to this country, just like the Irish immigrants who pursued a better life in the US. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Taoiseach can copy anyone he likes as long as he doesn’t copy the last government. – Yours, etc,