Sir, – Policies relating to asylum, including the distribution of refugees, remain the competence of the European governments, and not the EU institutions. A mandatory distribution of refugees, independently coordinated by the EU institutions, would be a more effective and fair way of dealing with this crisis, but such an approach would exceed the current mandate of the EU institutions.
Indeed the presidents of the European Commission and European Parliament have been among the loudest voices calling for the EU member states to do more, and to agree to an EU-led programme of distribution, but it has been certain individual member states, particularly in central and eastern Europe, that have opposed such a move.
If the citizenry want the EU to “do more”, the EU institutions must be given the power to act, and we must accept the need for ever-closer political union in Europe. The need to negotiate any agreement on matters so central to our humanity as this with 28 individual governments, and the undignified squabbling and brinksmanship that has characterised the response of certain EU countries, must no longer be tolerated.
It is incumbent on those who lament the inadequacy of the EU’s response to this crisis to call clearly for the delegation of relevant powers and responsibilities to the EU-level, to allow the EU to respond effectively to the tide of misery and suffering that this human tragedy has brought with it, and to meet the challenge of this and future crises. – Yours, etc,
BARRY COLFER,
Department of Politics
and International Studies,
University of Cambridge.
Sir, – We have a world crisis but where is the US? And Canada? Where is Australia? Brazil? New Zealand? And the rich Arab states? – Yours, etc,
NORMA MACMASTER,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Surely our limited resources should be spent in assisting those wonderful organisations such as the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, and so on, to try to improve conditions in those war-torn places such as Syria, Afghanistan, etc, rather than encouraging their citizens to come to us, however sympathetic we may be. – Yours, etc,
WJ MURPHY,
Malahide, Co Dublin.
Sir, – We are a group of sisters from the Anglo Celtic Territory of the Little Sisters of the Assumption, an international order of religious women with many years of experience working with displaced peoples. The current situation saddens us and at the same time we are greatly heartened to see the groundswell of response from Irish people. We are inspired by the leadership of Pope Francis in calling on every parish and religious community in Europe to respond with generosity. However, there is need to discuss how to tap into this generosity.
We want to express our grave concern about the lack of coherent European, UN and Irish policies to deal with the worsening humanitarian crisis for refugees fleeing desperate situations.
Accordingly, we call for urgent, co-ordinated and committed action backed by political will and based on learning from past initiatives.
We see the need to recall the Dáil immediately in order to respond to this urgent refugee crisis, by drawing up a firm plan of action on what Ireland’s response will be.
We feel it is imperative that there be dialogue and more transparency in how services for refugees are developed. There is need for ongoing dialogue between Government and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community leaders on the ground, such as migrant groups, national NGOs and major international aid agencies, so that each group’s different expertise can contribute to the solution.
The resources needed to address the homeless crisis must not be diverted to the refugee crisis. The Irish people need assurance that both of these vulnerable groups, which need different responses, will have their needs addressed simultaneously.
We call on our MEPs to offer a generous and humanitarian response on behalf of the people of Ireland at the forthcoming EU summit on September 14th.
We acknowledge the good work of the Naval Service in the Mediterranean. However, we believe Ireland can contribute more to the European initiative by taking more refugees and, learning from our own Famine and immigration stories, blaze a trail of generosity and humanity.
We hope that the announcement suggesting use of empty Army barracks will not be a continuation of the negative policies brought to light in the Report of the Working Group on Protection Processes and Direct Provision.
With Europe facing the biggest refugee crisis since the second World War, these major powers must unite and pool resources to address this scandal. They must set up safe and legal processes on both sides of the Mediterranean to counteract traffickers, enabling humanitarian treatment and simplifying applications for asylum in Europe.
The EU and UN need to work on the structural causes of the crises in the relevant countries, many of which have been caused by western military interventions, arms sales and exploitation of natural resources by multinational companies.
The magnitude of this crisis challenges the EU, the UN and NGOs to support immediate and long-term solutions to the political, ethnic and religious conflicts forcing people to take such desperate measures for freedom. We believe this is a time for all key powers to show unity and leadership to address this crisis. – Yours, etc,
Sr LENA DEEVY, LSA
Little Sisters
of the Assumption,
Terenure, Dublin 6.
Sir, – If Ireland, or Europe, indeed, is to accept any refugees from the current Syrian crisis, it should focus on those most in need, not those who have managed to get themselves to the front of the queue. Those most in need are the Christians, Yazidis, or other non-Muslim groups, followed by minority sects within Islam.
It is patently obvious at this point that some are happy to use this war to drive a vast wave of Muslim immigrants into Europe in a cynical effort to speed up the Islamicisation of the continent.
A short-term emotional response driven by ruthless media manipulation should not trump analysis of the medium- and longer-term consequences of such unchecked immigration.
German overcompensation for the crimes of the second World War should not be allowed to dictate wider European policy. – Yours, etc,
Dr DAVID WOODS,
Cork.
A chara, – In seeking an equitable arrangement for the sheltering of the dispossessed, and applying the principle that the polluter pays, I suggest that the intake of refugees by countries be proportionate to the value of their arms exports. – Is mise,
PAUL ARNOLD,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Sam Bowman of the Adam Smith Institute in London (September 4th) states that in the past immigration has been a win-win situation for countries. That may have been the case in the past, but he overlooks the current unemployment crisis in Europe, which has been largely forgotten by the media. Eurostat estimates that there are over 23 million people unemployed in the EU, including five million young people. New technology is also eliminating a lot of jobs. So we have to face the fact that a lot of immigrants will not be able to find work. – Yours, etc,
N LEESON,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I would love to see every country parish and village in Ireland adopt at least one migrant family fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria as an initial practical response to the multitude of peoples flocking to Europe who are in dire need of help and crying out in desperation for support. Pope Francis and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin have mentioned the willingness of parishes to help out.
Local authorities in cities like Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick have enough to be doing right now in attending to the current housing shortage and homeless crisis.
Irish people are by nature warm, openhearted and generous and have a great sense of family.
I can visualise local parishes and village communities working closely together in very practical ways to meet the many needs of these migrant families, needs such as housing, health, learning to speak the language and to feel safe and at home again.
I believe a very special moment has come for us as a people when we must stand up and reach out to support our most unfortunate brothers and sisters. – Yours, etc,
Fr VAL COLLIER,
Don Bosco Care,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.