Sir, – As Rosita Boland so eloquently put it ("Migration in the Mediterranean – the toll on humanity", Opinion & Analysis, April 20th), we lose some of our own humanity when we dehumanise the tragedy of the migrant situation which is currently playing out in the Mediterranean between Libya and Italy. Yet all across Europe, in current and upcoming election campaigns, this is exactly what is happening. Instead of forcing our politicians to face up to the root cause of the problem, ie why would anybody take such a huge risk with their lives in trying to gain entry to the EU, we hear the lazy line of hatred and intolerance.
Why is it that multitudes of desperate people from many countries are dying on the seas in dilapidated boats? Many are fleeing the oppression of cruel regimes (many western supported), while others are fleeing conflict such as the Syrian civil war.
However, a significant number are economic migrants who merely want to find a way of ensuring that their families left behind might have an opportunity of a better life. These people are prepared to sacrifice their lives to get an opportunity to work for minimum pay so that they can send remittances to their loved ones whom they may never see again, even if they survive the treacherous journey.
As Patrick Smyth outlined ("Migrants' €1.8bn lifeline to home", Opinion & Analysis, April 18th), remittances from migrants make up a large portion of the GDP of many developing countries. Countries that under normal circumstances should be able to provide a living to these migrants but cannot because of a combination of political corruption, corporate exploitation, conflict and imbalanced trade agreements. We all should consider this before paying heed to the bile and prejudice common in much political rhetoric on this issue.
With a general election looming in this jurisdiction, let the debate be about who is best placed to improve the lot of the less fortunate, no matter where they come from. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Blackrock, Cork.
Sir, – As a vocal critic of Government defence policy I am happy, for once, to welcome a positive development.The announcement by Minister for Defence Simon Coveney that the Government plans to send a Naval Service vessel on a humanitarian mission is significant. It will be the first time that Ireland sends a naval unit on a humanitarian or a peacekeeping mission.
The Naval Service has waited 55 years for this day; the Army having started sending units since 1960 (Congo operation). The Air Corps has already participated in a humanitarian operation, in assisting the evacuation of foreign nationals from war-torn Libya (2011).
The Naval Service has currently a capability to participate in humanitarian operations, but not in peacekeeping missions. In my opinion, to participate in peacekeeping operations it still needs to be able to deploy a warship capable of conducting combat operations. I hope progress in this direction will be reflected in the long-awaited White Paper on defence. – Yours, etc,
Col (retired)
DORCHA LEE,
Navan,
Co Meath.
Sir, – Ireland is to send a naval vessel to the Mediterranean to take part in search-and-rescue operations, but not, clearly, to become a ferry service to and from Ireland; the vessel’s usefulness must remain in the area of crisis.
It has been suggested that rescued persons would be landed on the southern coasts of Italy or Greece or on Malta. Local ports are already overstretched, and a majority of EU states appear to be content to let the Mediterranean states take the brunt.
Refugees who may be rescued by our Irish ship should be taken to an agreed nearby port, cared for with food, water, clothes and given essential medical attention, then taken by coach to a nearly airport (there are dozens near or at the sea in the area) and flown direct to Dublin. The asylum or refugee process can follow here.
Ireland is committed to taking the pitiful, disgraceful, scandalously tiny target of 200 refugees per year; we should be both ashamed and angry. –
Yours, etc,
KENNETH JONES,
Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Let’s stop using words like “migrant” and “illegal”. Those drowning as they try to reach safety in Europe are people and we must stop “othering” them. We can’t continue to live behind a medieval moat of denial, misinformation and fear. – Yours, etc,
GERTRUDE COTTER,
Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.