Sir, - Those opposed to the acceptance of asylum-seekers almost invariably use the word "influx" to describe the meagre number of who have arrived here in the past few years. Inevitably the arrival of asylum-seekers/refugees generates a degree of tension among a large proportion of the population, but that tension can be dissipated. Almost equally inevitably, the latent Enoch Powells of Irish society emerge with variations on the "rivers of blood" theme, of which W. Murphy's letter (June 2nd) is a good example. In the final analysis the economic impact of asylum-seekers/refugees on Irish citizens will be somewhere between non-existent and negligible. Yes, the cultural and social impact will be huge but Irish society will not be economically impoverished as a result.
If only the same could be said about another recent "influx" into Ireland - that of foreign-controlled credit and capital. While supporting asylum/seekers means a tiny increase in the social welfare budget, something easily avoided by allowing asylum-seekers to work, foreign creditors and "investors" have potentially enormous leverage over our entire political and social life. Should our boom falter, even slightly, that leverage will come into play. The poorest will suffer as health and education services are cut to the bone, yet again, as our leaders try to inspire "investor confidence". It is simply not tenable to portray asylum-seekers/refugees as the biggest problem facing our society while at the same time leaving unexamined the implications of our voracious appetite for foreign investment and credit. - Yours, etc.,
Ciaran McKenna, Greenville Place, Clanbrassil Street, Dublin 8.