We must learn from the riots in France

THE riots in French cities are a grim warning of what could happen here if the underlying causes - poverty, social deprivation, racism and xenophobia - are not tackled soon.

For years, successive French governments have been warned that poor neighbourhoods in many cities were at boiling point because of official neglect and rampant racism, but to no avail.

The same applies to the current FF/PD Government, who have been in power since large-scale immigration to our country began.

Do we have to wait until our cities burn, our properties are destroyed, and people are injured, or even killed, as has now happened in France, before the Government addresses the underlying problems of social exclusion?

For a start, they should allow anyone who is resident here for six months to work so that they don’t have to claim off the State.

The Government should ensure that immigrants have the same pay rates and conditions as Irish workers, including the right to join a trade union, which is what the Irish Ferries workers are fighting for.

Paul Kinsella

53 Lorcan Grove

Santry

Dublin 9