31st August 2000
The Department of Justice needs to establish refugee reception centres in various parts of Ireland. One was set up in a small hotel in Pembroke Road, Dublin 4, near where I live. Legal action was taken by some of the residents who felt the value of property in the area would be adversely affected by the hostel. I don't think any of the local public representatives supported the objecting residents. Certainly no one contacted me but then I know I am considered a hopeless case ever since I refused to object to the Drug Treatment Centre in Baggot Street Hospital. As far as I could see all the refugees/asylum seekers who were in the hostel were black, very black. Any of those I met and spoke to in the local shops were Africans. All were professional people. It takes quite a bit of money to get out of Africa so it was understandable that it was not the Nigerian unemployed I met.
The residents won; the hostel was closed down even before the court case started.
A few weeks ago, in the interest of research in Dublin Casualty Departments, walking along Merrion Square from the Senate, on the way home for lunch, I tripped over my feet and threw myself on the ground. Cutting a long but interesting story short I ended up in St. Vincent's Casualty Department. Cheer up all those who work there, for a change things went well in an A and E episode. The nurse who divided sheep and goats was kind and efficient. She said she was afraid I was a "major" which was a pity because "minors" were going faster, but indeed the length of time before I was seen and dealt with was not excessive. I was there in all less than 5 hours but something was happening all the time. If I wasn't being bled, ECGed or X-rayed we were waiting for results.
Anyway, off I went home at about 8.00pm with my huge black eye, cracked ribs, etc.. I was not given, but did not need, resuscitative tea and toast but was glad to see that this old-fashioned remedy was still administered to others. Indeed, one old man needed a chicken sandwich before he could head off to Irishtown. This was supplied, too.
Very ill people came and went on into the wards all afternoon, being carefully and kindly dealt with by the mainly young staff, many of whom, if not black, were light and dark brown. One told me he came from the Sudan. Another was from South Africa.
So, how acceptable are these Africans to the objectors in Dublin 4? The next time some of those who opposed the black refugees end up in St. Vincent's, our local A & E, how will they feel about other black people caring for them? If the Africans look at their patients' addresses I hope their professional feelings will overcome their disgust at having to deal with people who would not like to be called racist but are. Would they like these doctors and nurses to live in Dublin 4 either? Probably not. Let them commute from less affluent areas after they have worked very tiring and stressful shifts.
More and more staff for our beleaguered health service will be sought abroad but I must say I would be slow to recommend medical or nursing colleagues to come here. Several non EU doctors who are here have told me of the racist abuse they have received. And as for allowing them to bring in family members! - "who do these people think they are"! is our collective response.
Well, it is now a situation where we are the ones on the backfoot and unless we change our blatantly racist attitudes so will remain there. And official attitudes are frequently not a good example. I was present in Seanad Éireann when our Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue talked about a "glut of refugees". We could do with a "glut" of non-EU doctors to fill service jobs but it is quite possible that these official remarks have been noted.
Now, frequently, I am told of doctors who have secured posts here having visa difficulties. A married couple, both doctors, were to be employed in the same hospital in the west of Ireland. The wife got her entry visa but there were problem with the husband's. Someone contacted me to say the need for the husband was more urgent, his speciality being very short staffed and if the Department was going to let in one only, could it be him! Visitor visas for family members can cause trouble, too, even for widowed mothers to come for a few weeks.
If the Minister for Health and Children has decided that the only way to fill our service jobs in medicine and nursing is by enticing non EU doctors and nurses here he should speak to his colleague in Foreign Affairs. We need these professionals far more than they need us.
PS Regular readers will be glad to know my foot is now fine. Thanks to those who asked me about it.
Senator Mary Henry, MD
