Coughlan should live up to words she admires

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance” — Robert F Kennedy

On the website of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan claims this is one of her favourite quotes because it is “about making change, making a difference and bettering society”.

Robert Kennedy is a great inspiration of mine as well. He stood firmly against structural oppression and injustice, particularly that which was committed against minority groups and immigrant workers in the United States.

I know because I worked for several years with the United Farm Workers of America, an organisation of primarily Mexican immigrants, and Robert Kennedy stood firmly by them when they were asking to improve their lot against injustice and oppression.

As both a citizen of the United States and Ireland, and as someone who works with immigrants here, I have appealed to the Tánaiste to take these highest of ideals which Kennedy espoused and immediately postpone the changes to the work permits system that are due to come into effect on June 1. She alone has the power to stop them and review and consider the alternatives.

This policy, if implemented in its current form, will create enormous hardship for those made redundant, many of whom have been here with their families for years.

Some have been waiting for years in the long-term residency queue. It will also force people into undocumented situations similar to the those experienced by the Irish in the USA.

Is this really what we want? Is this bettering society?

There are better ways to do this. The Tánaiste should stop the changes and allow the opportunity to consider them.

Bill Abom

Deputy Director

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland

Parnell Square West

Dublin 1