Leaving Ireland's 'bankrupt' shores

Madam, – I wasn’t overly privileged, yet through luck and hard work I have third-level qualifications

Madam, – I wasn’t overly privileged, yet through luck and hard work I have third-level qualifications. I would like to stay in the country of my birth. I would like a job. I am trying damn hard to get one. And I fully empathise with those of my peers who have expressed their disillusionment with the mismanagement of this country that has resulted in so many of us being left in the lurch, and most especially with those who are obliged to emigrate because of this cold reality; after all, I may yet be joining them.

And while I have met quite a few people in recent times who have lost their jobs, I have met none delighted by that fact. And I am absolutely disgusted with the attitude of John Moran (November 5th), writing from Saudi Arabia about those who are, he claims, unwilling to find “worthwhile work even in the middle of a depression”.

Many of us are spending our days trying to do precisely that. Perhaps Mr Moran might return to impart to us his wisdom? He claims “they will not be missed if they don’t bother to come back”. Writing from Riyadh, how is he supposed to notice whether they do or not?

Nobody owes me a living: in this country or anywhere else. Mr Moran says “good riddance” to many of us. Many of us who are trying to do the best we can in the midst of this recession might say something similar to him. – Yours, etc,

JOHN GIBNEY,

Priory Road,

Harold’s Cross,

Dublin 6W.