SIR, - I REFER TO THE ARTICLE By PAUL CULLEN ON AUGUST 29TH and YOUR EDITORIAL OF AUGUST 30TH CONCERNING CURRENT LEGAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IN THIS STATE WITH REGARD TO REFUGEES AND THOSE SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM. IN 1993, ALAN SHATTER TD PUBLISHED A PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL - THE REFUGEE PROTECTION BILL - WHICH, IF ENACTED INTO LAW, WOULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL OF THE PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS AND WOULD HAVE PUT IN PLACE THE STATUTORY MECHANISMS TO PROPERLY RESPECT THE RIGHT OF POLITICAL ASYLUM AND TO IMPLEMENT OUR INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON REFUGEES.IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IN THE SPRING OF 1993 THE THEN FIANNA FAIL/LABOUR GOVERNMENT VOTED DOWN THIS BILL IN DAIL EIREANN AND LACKED THE INSIGHT AND GENEROSITY TO ALLOW IT BECOME LAW. IT IS DOUBLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE SUBSEQUENT FINE GAEL/LABOUR GOVERNMENT TOOK SO LONG TO GET ITS OWN MEASURE ON THE STATUTE BOOKS AND, HAVING DONE SO, FAILED TO PUT IN PLACE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES REQUIRED TO BRING IT INTO FORCE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, OUR CURRENT LAWS DENY TO THOSE GENUINELY IN NEED OF POLITICAL ASYLUM THE PROTECTION TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED AND THE DEFECTIVE PROCEDURES NOW IN PLACE WILL INEVITABLY BE HELD AT A FUTURE DATE BY OUR COURTS TO VIOLATE IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES. - YOURS, ETC.,BOOTERSTOWN, CO DUBLIN.