Madam, – When allegations are made about immigrants exploiting the Government welfare or other systems they get media headlines.
However, when immigrants are exploited by Government decisions, this information is buried on the back pages like the advertisement of the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform charging immigrants €500 on the initial grant of residency permission. Up to now there was no charge.
The sum of €500 is more than a week’s wage for many immigrants in Ireland.
Immigrants did not cause the present economic crisis. Why should they and other vulnerable people be exploited to bail out the powerful who caused the crisis? I am sure all are willing to carry a fair share of the burden. However, €500 to an immigrant is exorbitant and unfair. – Yours, etc,