Galway Advertiser 2005/2005_04_14/GA_1404_E1_022.pdf 

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22

LETTERS

April 14 2005

Let's ban all nuisance things
Dear Editor, With reference to the letter from Nancy Roe in the paper of March 24 in which she advocated the banning of sale of spray paint to stop grafitti, I think it's a great idea. Also the sale of cars should be restricted to stop all the dangerous and stupid driving, as well as the sale of alcohol to make the streets safer and quieter on Friday and Saturday nights. Also the sale of jet skis, it's far too noisy and dangerous, as well as the sale of dogs to keep down the mess on our streets. There are many other things the sale of which really should be restricted because they cause so much nuisance. So before I go out to buy spray paint which I need for work (among many other items) that could be abused to annoy people with, I would have to make sure that I'm equipped with licences, for which I'd surely have to pay too. Another idea might be a proper youth centre and activity possibilities for young people, who have not really a big choice except to go drinking, watching TV, or creating graffitti. By the way some well grafittied houses would probably look quite cheerful among those dull and colourless suburbs in the new Galway. Yours, Irina Pawassar, Roscam, Galway.

Unjust justice for immigrants
Dear Editor, There is no doubt that the dawn of 2005 has put smiles in the faces of a vast majority of immigrants living in Ireland following the recent move by justice minister, Michael McDowell to regularise the residency status of some 17,000 non national parents of Irish-born children. It would be recalled that since the Supreme Court's judgment of April 8 2002 ruling that non-Irish parents of children born in Ireland were no longer entitled to remain in the state by virtue of their child's birth (in favour of State), and the subsequent outcome of an appeal that also favoured the State, victims were kept in a seemingly perpetual limbo, with no obligation to subscribe to their future here. It is true that immigrants will at long last heave a sigh of relief having been reassured that they could have applied for residency before March 31 on the basis of their Irish children born on or before January 1 2005 and be granted the right to reside and work for an initial period of two years. Minister McDowell proposes that for the initial two years to be extended on expiration, applicants must prove economic viability, in other words financial independence, to be eligible for a further three years renewal. How does he expect 17,000 people who because of work restrictions have been forced on social welfare for three years or more to achieve economic viability overnight? Or in the event of limited available employment, or personal circumstances such as genuine single parents who can't work full time or work at all, and the disabled, does Mr McDowell plan to waive his criteria when the two-year period is up or deport them for failure to meet the conditions? What about parents who have been deported with or without their Irishborn babies back to their home countries they once fled as a result of unbearable persecution, would they not have been equally entitled to Mr McDowell's belated philanthropy but for deportations that have trampled upon their family union and violated the rights their Irish children? Perhaps at this stage it is highly recommended that Michael McDowell as part of his resolve to sanitize immigrations as announced in his new year's revised arrangements should also beam on the existing immigration structures long due for overhaul and not just complaints about immigrants. Focus should be on introducing a more comprehensive and effective immigration system manned and enforced by well-trained officers. It will also be in the interests of all parties that current immigration officers with mediocre knowledge about immigrations and multiculturalism be subjected to relevant re-orientation and retraining as Ireland of today is very different from Ireland of yesteryears. That the Minister has eventually lent his listening ears to the cries and worries of uncertainties and insecurity by immigrants and proimmigrant groups is a step taken towards the right direction but further steps still have to be taken. What then decides the fate of asylum seekers who have no children or did not have any here before January 1 2005 but have lived here before the date, quite possibly even longer than some of those who gave birth who are now potential beneficiaries of the new arrangements. As I write some of them are being served deportation letters for failed asylum and many more would similarly be faced with it perhaps in no distant time. In the light of this, I cannot but draw back readers attention to the publicspirited gesture of some Galway based asylum seekers who since last year voluntarily embarked on ridding Galway of litters as their own quota to the society. What will be the share of the likes of these young men from McDowell's amnesty? Should they be in dire need of it? It is a fact that prior to constitutional amendments, no automatic allowance other than successful asylum claims bestowed residency rights on an asylum seeker without an Irish-born child unlike in the reverse case. The amended Constitution equally does not either. However it does make sense that the same discretionary powers as recently exercised by Minister McDowell should apply to all asylum seekers who are willing to work and have been living here before his announcement regardless of their Irish- born parental status. Finally he should arrange for the return to Ireland families with Irishborn children still alive in their home countries which are willing to come back. In cases where parents were separated from their Irish-born children,they should be allowed to return with immediate effect in order to reunite them. By so doing, Mr McDowell's message for immigrants can then be branded a blanket amnesty and fair justice. Yours, Harry Osemwegie, PR/Media analyst Loughrea, Co Galway.

Eyre Square is a tale of two cities
Dear Editor, Just arrived back in New York after my half yearly visit to Galway and am "Bewitched, bothered and bewildered". Don't get me wrong, my two favourite cities are Galway and New York. Galway where I was born and raised in Eyre Square (now Garveys) with my six brothers, myself being the seventh son and New York where I've lived these past 50 years and am blessed with a lovely family. My two favourite sights in these beloved cities are Eyre Square and the Empire State Building. My bewilderment is the Eyre Square Enhancement Scheme. Each time I come home there seems little progress achieved (who is responsible?) The Empire State Building which is 104 storeys high, the tallest building in the World for 40 years, was built in 13 months in the year 1930 when less sophisticated building equipment was available. Is there something rotten in the State of Denmark? Gallimh Abu, Yours, Tommy Lydon 32-03 162 Street Flushing New York 11358

Letter against racism strategy was honest and fearless
Dear Editor, David Forde's letter "Racism Strategy will not work (Advertiser March 31)" was an honest, fearless, and accurate comment on the huge influx of non-nationals into Ireland over the past decade. He is of course absolutely correct in pointing out that words like "racist, xenophobic," etc, are the standard tactics used against anyone who expresses even the mildest reservation about mass immigration. However, it must be pointed out that it is a very successful tactic, as the majority who oppose mass immigration have been, with the occasional exception, frightened into silence. Last year the citizenship referendum was passed by an 80-20 majority, yet the extremely vocal PC liberals and left wingers, who despite an extensive campaign for a No vote could only muster 20 per cent support, continue to try to impose their agenda on the 80 per cent majority. If we are to have an open, free, and truly democratic society, it is essential that no minority, politically correct or otherwise, be allowed to intimidate the majority into silence on any issue. Immigration, multiculturalism, and the negative effects they have on Irish society, must not be allowed to become taboo subjects of discussion. Otherwise Ireland, a small country with a small popualtion, will soon be changed out of recognition, and not for the better. I wonder if the pro-immigration lobby have ever considered the consequences of a downturn in the Irish economy which would leave Irish people and non-nationals competing for a limited amount of jobs, houses, and other basic services. Despite the current booming economy there are a number of factors such as increased oil prices, terrorism, and a withdrawal of multinationals, that would alter things radically. We are constantly being bombarded with propaganda about how Ireland is being enriched by diversity, multiculturalism etc. However, even in Galway, the local papers carry virtually weekly reports of asylum seekers and other foreigners being convicted of a variety of crimes in Galway District Court. Perhaps the resources being used on the anti-racism strategy would be better used. Yours, Gerry Kinneavy, Camp Street, Oughterard.

Papal memory
Remembering the late Pope John Paul 11
At Ballybrit in Seventy Nine On that September Sunday morn, He held our whole world in his hand As we gazed up at him on the Stand. We all sang Totus Tuus then In those misty far-off days, So glad he had come among us With his friendly affable ways. He loved to ski on mountains high Beneath his beloved Polish sky, On balmy summer days sublime He'd write his thoughts in poetic rhyme. It's been a week of high emotion Remembering back the years Millions have knelt in genuflection, Round the world have been shed many tears. Oh! we never shall forget him Our Holy Father for so long He was our inspiration In word and deed and song. His zest for life was second to none. Solidarity and love all wrapped into one. Yours, Aileen McCormack-Glynn, Seacrest,

Don't blame the cheap labourer for conditions of hire
Dear Editor, "The word racism is like a nuclear bomb to be thrown at an opponent when all rational argument has been exhausted," so said David Forde in his letter of March 31. Aside from the fact that the residents of downtown Hiroshima might consider that a considerable stretching of the margins of "rational argument". I'm having trouble getting my head around the fact that Mr Forde spent 30 years as an economic immigrant to the UK and considers its multicultural society "a huge failure." He also considers this a valid verdict on the ethnic mix to be found in every other European country. I have lived and worked in the UK, the US, Germany, and the Netherlands and enjoyed the diversity of the global mix that has been at the heart of all civilisations back through time. The only period that reminded me of the stifling hypocrisy, conformism and self-delusion of Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s were the two years I spent working in Apartheid South Africa. Which may explain why Minister McDowell increasingly reminds me of Pik Botha and his legalistic selfhypnosis. And before blaming the cheap labourer for the conditions of his/her hire, he might bear in mind that our own international entrepreneurial brigades (led by such paragons of social concern as Liam Lawlor) are making more than the odd tenner by speculation on spiralling property markets that add to the displacement of populations, something like the activities that may have contributed to Mr Forde's (and so many other's) period of seeking refuge abroad. Racism can be used as a simplistic and abusive evasion of rational argument. But answers cannot lie in countering with denials of complexity. Yours, Damien Flinter, Tulyvoheen, Clifden.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
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