Sir, - Andy Pollak (The Irish Times, December 1st) reports that "Ireland has fewer asylum-seekers than all but four EU countries". And it seems that, if the Department of Justice has its way, Ireland will remain way down the scale of welcoming nations. Moreover, in its determination to maintain this bottom-of-the-league position the Department has shown scant regard for the humanity of those whom it chooses to deport.
On Monday, November 30th, two Romanian men who had been living in Wexford since March were deported to France under the terms of the Dublin Convention. Both men had been held in Mountjoy jail since the previous Thursday. Even worse, they were called to the Department to renew their ID cards on Wednesday, November 25th and after travelling from Wexford found that no new ID cards were to be issued to them on that day.
Instead they were asked to report to Wexford Garda Station the following day. Upon arrival there they were both detained and taken to Mountjoy to await deportation to France.
It is difficult to explain why the Department deemed it necessary to call the men to Dublin to renew ID cards which Department officials surely knew were not going to be issued. It is even more difficult to explain why the Department felt it necessary to incarcerate both men for almost five days before their deportation. Not only is Ireland fast becoming the nation of emigrants that rejects immigrants, but it seems that this odious title is to be earned through a complete disregard for the humanity of those who seek to build new lives in our country. - Yours etc., Pat Guerin,
Anti-Racism Campaign, Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2.