Sir, - In his analysis of the Irish Times/MRBI survey on Irish attitudes to asylum-seekers and refugees, Kevin Rafter (The Irish Times, January 24th) states that the poll indicates "that the Minister may be closer to the public mood on immigration than previously thought by many". However, this analysis fails to recognise the extent to which public support for strictly limiting refugee numbers in Ireland has been influenced by Mr O'Donoghue and the Department of Justice.
Both the Minister and his Department have fuelled negative and sensationalist reporting on asylum-seekers in Ireland. The use of terms such as "flood" and "tide" to describe a relatively small number of asylum-seekers has created an unnecessary sense of alarm in Irish society. Moreover, describing 90 per cent of asylum-seekers as bogus refugees in advance of their applications being processed has greatly influenced Irish thinking on the subject. Furthermore, the chaotic scenes at Mount Street helped create a sense of an invasion. And this despite the fact that the number of asylum applicants in Ireland remains low in EU terms.
In these circumstances it is hardly surprising that 74 per cent of those surveyed should support strict controls. No mention of these factors is included in Kevin Rafter's analysis.
Unfortunately, your Editorial of the same day which the poll findings to a reaction to "the sudden influx of asylum-seekers", and ignores the possibility of other factors influencing Irish public attitudes.
Given that the full resources of the Irish State were brought to bear in creating a very negative climate for asylum-seekers, it is no wonder that public reaction should be that shown in the poll. It is regrettable that The Irish Times should publish such findings without a more thorough analysis. Irish asylum/immigration policy is not merely a reflection of Irish public attitudes. The attitude of the Irish public has effectively been shaped to effect a government policy of exclusion. - Yours, etc.,
Pat Guerin, National Federation of Campaigns Against Racism, Camden Street, Dublin 2.