Some immigrants are more equal than others

LABOUR Party leader Pat Rabbitte has admitted his attitude to the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US was hypocritical when compared to attitudes he had expressed on immigrants to Ireland.

Answering questions at the launch of the Fine Gael/Labour joint policy document on support for Irish immigrants abroad, Mr Rabbitte conceded there was always a healthy element of hypocrisy in politics when it came to protecting one’s own interest.

His remarks came after he was asked whether it was hypocritical of him to lobby for the regularisation of undocumented Irish in the US, having previously supported decisions here in Ireland which sought to remove illegal immigrants.

Last year the Labour leader sparked controversy in his own party ranks after calling for restrictions on workers from new EU member states coming to Ireland.

In an interview, Mr Rabbitte said the time may be coming when we would have to examine whether a work permit regime ought to be implemented for some of the non-national labour.

“There are 40 million or so Poles, after all, so it is an issue we will have to look at,” he said.

To pretend that such contradictory behaviour is possible debases our politics and does nothing whatever to enhance the credibility of our politicians.

Michael J Stokes

2 Willington Green

Templeogue

Dublin 6W