Sir, - The resignation of Mr Peter Finlay SC from the Independent Appeals Authority for Refugees is sad and deeply disappointing. He has described the system as "a complete travesty" and said that even the fundamental rights of asylum-seekers were not being observed.
What a disgraceful state of affairs! Any official who would deny asylum-seekers the basic rights that we believe ourselves entitled to is surely not acting with the consent of most Irish people.
Yet again we see the awful consequences when faceless bureaucracy is given its head by spineless politicians, who mouth platitudes about Ireland being a modern, open democracy while they allow vulnerable asylum-seekers to be treated with contempt by the State's own servants. - Yours, etc.,
M. Halpenny, Hazelwood, Shankill, Co Dublin.