In a recent issue of your paper (4-10 June 2009) you gave quite a lot of agenda-driven attention to the Immigration Control Platform (ICP), and I wish to raise three points as a result.
Most importantly, you have grossly misrepresented ICP policy in your account of an interview with Patrick Talbot, who stood on our behalf in the Dublin Central by-election. I have checked this with him. You represent him, and consequently ICP, as wishing to expel from the country all immigrants “bar those that we really need”. This is absolutely not ICP policy. Where people were allowed to come and have established themselves over a time, we suggest no such thing.
This is proven beyond doubt by the fact that in our submission relating to the preparation of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill currently going through the Dáil, we specifically accepted the new provision for long-term residency rights which is being introduced there.
Even in this recession, the strongest suggestion we have made is that, given the new circumstances, work permits should not be renewed where it is the first-time renewal. In a situation where we are already at 14 per cent of foreigners in the population, it is certainly true that we say we should have no immigration “bar those that we really need” but that is a very different matter.
Secondly, you presume to write our obituary on the ridiculous basis that five years ago we ran three candidates in the local elections and this year none. As you acknowledge, we are an NGO, not a party; we might or might not engage in elections as we deemed appropriate. We are not the PDs.
Since our foundation in 1998 we have been the only organised voice on the side of immigration control; a control which over 60 per cent of Irish people have sought in poll after poll. We have worked very hard on the issue and as long as the massive migratory pressures on Ireland, as on all of Europe, continue, we are going nowhere.
Lastly, you presume to decide who is our “counterpart” in the UK. Our counterpart is Migrationwatch UK, as evidenced by the fact that they are the only link, except for two Irish government sites, on our website.
Áine Ní Chonaill,
PRO, Immigration Control Platform
