Madam, - As a member of the Labour Party I found Pat Rabbitte's assertion that Enda Kenny's speech on immigration was "thought-provoking" and "powerful" ( The Irish Times, January 27th) to be deeply troubling and politically inconsistent with the values of the Labour Party.
In contrast, I consider Mr Kenny's playing of the "race card" to be the final straw in Fine Gael's crude and desperate grasp for power. It is now incontrovertible that Fine Gael's approach to immigration is in direct conflict with the socialist values and principles of the Labour Party.
While it appears that Mr Rabbitte does not share this analysis of the Fine Gael position, I believe grassroots Labour Party supporters will show their distaste for the "Blueshirt" agenda at the coming general election. This sentiment will manifest itself most clearly at the ballot box when Labour voters transfer their preference votes to other parties on the left with a closer affinity to Labour and a more sophisticated understanding of immigration than Enda Kenny or his party could ever muster. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK NULTY, National Chairperson, Labour Youth, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
Madam, - As a naturalised Irish citizen who has lived here for exactly 40 years - well and truly integrated - I welcome Enda Kenny's speech on immigration. I may not be a native Irish person but I fail to see anything wrong with Enda Kenny referring to the Irish as a "Celtic and Christian people". For those who sought to zoom in on those two words and ignore some excellent points he made in his call for a debate on immigration, I would like to draw their attention to Mark Hennessy's article in last Saturday's Weekend Review. A healthy, open debate on immigration is long overdue. There is never a right time for difficult discussion of important human affairs and we cannot go on pretending everything is "grand" or choose to remain wedded firmly to "political correctness".
Most of us in this modern, wealthy, educated and informed Irish society surely would agree that we need our immigrants - most of them young, educated, skilled, hard-working, law-abiding and courteous, even if their first language is not English. Those who wish to remain here will make every effort to learn English primarily to further their own careers, make better lives for themselves and their families, and enjoy living as equal partners in our society. That equal partnership can only lead to a worthwhile contribution to the land in which they live. Isn't that what integration is about?
Integration has to be a two-way process. We, as Irish people, will have to make every effort to help the immigrants integrate by connecting with them on an individual basis and getting to know them, encouraging them to learn our language and our ways, to understand, appreciate and respect our traditions and our values, not forgetting the laws that govern this nation. In that process we too can learn from our immigrants about their culture, traditions and values. It is bound to be an enriching experience. I believe that irrespective of our nationalities, mother tongues and cultures, we have an innate ability to adapt, adjust and learn from each other without necessarily losing our own identities or cultures.
But I have never subscribed to the idea of multiculturalism - people from different nations and cultures simply co-existing in any society is not a healthy or happy one. We have seen the difficulties arising from different nationalities living separate and not so satisfactory or rewarding lives in some European countries. We have an opportunity not to make the same mistakes. Integration is the way forward. The way is clear, the task is huge; now is the time for an open and honest debate. - Yours, etc,
MARY TOOMEY, The Grange, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Madam, - It is a pity that Maurice Dockrell (January 26th) didn't look beyond the obvious in Enda Kenny's speech. He might have discovered the conviction that he seeks. It is time that we discussed this major topic, rather than continuing with the current furtive pretence that there are no integration, education and equality issues to be addressed.
The speech was a welcome and thoughtful contribution to the debate and should not be eclipsed by knee-jerk reactions from those who are interested only in political point-scoring. - Yours, etc,
RAY COMERFORD, Rectory Way, Bray,Co Wicklow.
Madam, - Maurice Dockrell hits the nail squarely on the head. Enda Kenny has, quite simply, lost his way. - Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY, Killester, Dublin 5.
Madam, - Your Editorial of January 26th acknowledges that it was unfortunate for Enda Kenny to frame his recent speech against the backdrop of a "Celtic and Christian" Ireland, but concludes that it would be equally unfortunate if "political correctness" were to preclude debate on this live and important issue.
The parameters of a debate can determine its outcome. It is therefore more than mere "political correctness" that would lead one to criticise Enda Kenny for setting the parameters in such a way as potentially to alienate present and would-be members of Irish society by (a) invoking an outmoded and monolithic view of Irishness and (b) implying a correlation between immigrants and criminality (higher rates of convictions among immigrants can have various explanations).
It is indeed a debate worth having, but can we at least set proper parameters? - Yours, etc,
JO KENNY, Grosvenor Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6.