Sir, - The Irish Times/MORI poll on immigrants and refugees marks an unwelcome departure from the standards normally employed by your newspaper when discussing this sensitive topic.
This departure is due to the confusion between refugees and immigrants caused by the questions posed in the poll. The first question refers to refugees and immigrants, while the second and third questions deal with refugees alone. This confusion is worsened by the fact that the second and third questions pose issues which apply to immigrants rather than to refugees.
It is not possible, given Ireland's obligations under the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol, to either allow into the country only refugees who are qualified to fill specific job vacancies or to strictly limit the number of refugees entering the country. This confusion can only lead to disinformation about the issues facing Ireland with respect to refugees and immigrants, to the detriment of both categories of person; and, as we all know, ignorance leads to racism.
I trust that The Irish Times will seek to ameliorate the unfortunate results of this misguided poll and return to an informed analysis of these important issues. - Yours, etc.,
Se d'Alton, Palmerston Road, Dublin 6.