Sir, – According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are 145 and 146 state parties to the Convention on the Status of Refugees and the 1967 protocol, respectively.
Withdrawing from these treaties, as advocated by Áine NíChonail (November 12th), would cause irreparable damage, aside from damage to Ireland's international reputation. The convention was drafted largely in response to the experience of Jewish refugees in Europe during the second World War. The tragic consequences of the world's indifference at that time are well known. The tragic consequences of ongoing civil wars ought to be as evident in our era of social media.
The principle of the right to seek asylum is a fundamental part of the international human rights system. Surely no one would want to forcibly return persecuted people to their tormentors to face torture or even certain death. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN DINEEN, LLM
Dublin 3.