A chara, - It is indeed a welcome development in Ireland's economy that Ministers McDaid and Harney are now encouraging Irish people abroad to return to the workforce here. It helps dispel the argument, used by various politicians and media personnel, during the wave of emigration in the late 1980s that emigrants were leaving voluntarily and therefore did not deserve any role in the Irish political system.
Glor an Deorai campaigned strongly on this issue and successive ministers of environment, particularly Brendan Howlin and Padraig Flynn, rejected our demands out of hand. It may now be an appropriate time to reconsider this issue, in light of the fact, that emigrants are being encouraged to return, having been unjustly disenfranchised because of their forced exile during a period of recession.
A strong argument can be made that this Celtic Tiger was reared on the backs of the more than 100,000 emigrants of the late 1980s. It is a good time to implement a practical expression of gratitude. - Is mise,
Liam O Cuinneagain, Gleann Cholm Cille, Co Dhun na nGall.