Sir, - The views presented by A. McCabe from Philadelphia (May 27th) are extremely racist, in addition to being highly insulting to persons in receipt of social welfare payments.
The author of the letter, who seems to consider himself well acquainted with the current situation in Ireland, should know that asylum seekers are not permitted to take up employment during the time that their application for residency is being processed. Secondly, they are not entitled to an unemployment payment, as they are not allowed to seek work. They can claim under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme, a sum which currently stands at £65.40 per week, hardly an exorbitant amount.
The author seems also to be very concerned with the level of taxes in this country and the fact that "we keep subsidising the economically challenged from abroad". While taxation can be seen as a problem (although one which no longer affects the author), this is as much related to which groups in society carry the burden as to the levels of the taxes. It has to be remembered also that taxes serve a purpose. Unless we wish to follow the route of the USA, where standards of public education and health have declined, where benefits are taken off people, very often on questionable grounds, who are then simply left homeless - the type of "ruthless", totally money-orientated society the author finds "wonderful" - then we should continue to strive and to pay for a more just, equitable and inclusive society for all and certainly not apologise for it. -Yours, etc., Ann Marie O'Connor,
Phibsboro, Dublin 7.