Madam, - I wish to echo Ruadahan Mac Cormac's article "Immigration - the issue that dare not speak its name" (Changing Places, May 30th). Yes, immigration is an issue that needs to be addressed. But solutions can only emerge through insightful, evidence-backed policies produced by round-table discussion and operating via governance practices free of brown envelopes and discrimination.
The spotlight should not be on immigrants or immigration but on the lack of both proactive and reactive mechanisms to deal with the inevitable but economically positive immigration with which Ireland is treaty-bound to deal humanely.
Those Irish people involved in cat fights about the loss of menial jobs to groups of people, incidentally immigrants, who reliably show up at work as expected are just whinging because they can't have their cake and eat it any more. As for Parents Action - how about getting on an entrepreneurial drive so that there's work for everyone who wants to operate a cash register. Times have changed. That's a reality that needs to be accepted. It's not whether you are a native or an immigrant that matters but what, when and how you can deliver.
Our political leadership is failing dismally to give a lead by challenging negative attitudes to immigrants. I was recently dealt a hope-shattering blow by a high ranking political candidate canvassing the general election. When I showed my black face at my door she said, "Hi I'm so-and-so, do you have a vote?" As soon as I said "No" she swung on her heel and was gone, only pausing halfway through her exodus to say: "Please God, I hope you get a vote soon". Did it not occur to her that I might have wanted to bring concerns to her attention as a resident of her constituency? But she wasn't going to waste her time on a voteless black immigrant. - Yours, etc,
THABI MADIDE, Delgany, Co Wicklow