Madam, - On reading Priya Rajsekar's article in your edition of June 16th I was deeply saddened by the negative emotions felt by the writer since the referendum.
As a Yes voter I felt a certain sense of guilt that my vote had been taken to mean that people from other countries were not welcome in this country.
I embrace the changing face of Ireland and appreciate the input of the thousands of wonderful nurses, doctors, accountants, bartenders, shop assistants, hotel workers and many more skilled and non-skilled people who have made Ireland their home and who contribute so much to our growing economy.
I feel that the information provided by both the Yes and No campaigns was insufficient for the ordinary individual to understand exactly what the long-term impact would be for the country, and many voted Yes to put Ireland in line with other European countries.
Ireland needs and welcomes people from all over the world and I for one apologise to all our friends from other nations who feel hurt by the referendum result. - Yours etc.,
LYNN CRONIN, Rathdown Park, Terenure, Dublin 6w.
Madam, - I agree with Priya Rajsekar: we should have been given more time to study and debate the issue. That Priya had insufficient time to examine the issues is apparent when she concludes that nearly everyone who voted Yes did so on racist grounds. No doubt, racism does exist here, but nowhere in the wording of the amendment is there anything that would satisfy the obdurate xenophobe.
The referendum outcome will not result in gates being slammed in the faces of immigrants nor will it deny them the right, having followed appropriate procedures, to apply for citizenship in the future.
I made my choice to vote Yes on humanitarian grounds. Ireland has grown more prosperous but our resources are not unlimited. An open-door policy is of benefit to no one. Without rules and regulations we might find ourselves admitting the oppressors rather than the oppressed. Granting automatic citizenship is an inefficient way of sharing our resources with those most in need.
"Citizenship tourism" was not a myth and had to be dealt with. It put the lives of expectant mothers at risk and put the staff of our maternity hospitals under intolerable pressure.
If I pass Priya in the street I hope she and her baby will give me their best smiles and I promise to smile back as I would always do. In the meantime I would ask her to try not to spread too much alarm and despondency among our immigrant neighbours with her interpretation of the referendum result. We should put pressure on the Government to legislate for an immigration policy that will benefit all. - Yours, etc.,
CHRISTOPHER DOYLE, Beechmount, Dublin 9.
Madam, - As one of the 21 per cent who voted No in the referendum, I have to admit that the No vote was lower than I expected. I draw some light-hearted consolation from the fact that this percentage corresponds to the amount of oxygen in air. Let's keep breathing. - Yours, etc.,
Dr JAMES FINNEGAN, Woodlands, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.