Plaasjapie wrote:maybe post your letters here for suggestions before sending them off?
Or would it be better to send lots of different letters?
Here's a version of the letter I wrote to the Irish Times.Maybe someone can change it a bit and send it to Metro and Herald AM.Since most of us are in the same situation, it might be relevant for all of us.Please change appropriate details.
Dear Readers,
Since this is election time, I'd like to bring to your notice one aspect of Justice Minister Michael McDowell's mismanagement of European Regulations in Ireland concerning European Nationals and their spouses.Even though the European Commission's Free movement of Labour Laws explicitly guarantees residency benefits for Non-National spouses of E.U citizens without any conditions, the minister has chosen to apply the law with a condition thrown in that they should have lived together else where in E.U before moving here.Since I have been in Ireland for the last 6 years and paying my taxes,I feel that not only have my rights as a European Citizen been violated, my human Rights as well to enjoy a family with my husband. While someone has challenged the constitutionality of the Irish law, the case has seen plenty of delays in the courts forcing us to a life of hardship on a single income, while many of us have babies on the way or illnesses.This seems more and more like a ploy by the Department of Justice into harassing E.U citizens with Non E.U spouses to return back to their home countries.What seems ironic is that E.U citizens seem to have lesser rights in Ireland than Asylum seekers who have no such conditions of residency imposed on them for family reunification!
While Mr.McDowell may think that the application of E.U laws by his department is upto his discretion and whimsy,He is guilty of violating treaties signed by Ireland with the E.U.
Regards,
XXX