To ask the Minister for Home Affairs if he is aware that emigrants leaving the town and County of Cavan for the U.S.A., including Americans returning, have to attend in person at Belfast to have their Passports vised by the American Consul there, and if he is aware that emigrants have to pass through the Six-County Area, en route to Belfast, and that complaints have been made by emigrants of having been held up and searched by Specials of the Six-County Area, to their great annoyance; by whose authority emigrants have to attend at Belfast, and inasmuch as Cavan Town and County forms part of Southern Ireland, he will permit emigrants to attend at Dublin, being the most convenient centre, to have their Passports vised, instead of at Belfast, or leave it to the choice of emigrants or returning Americans to attend at either Belfast'or Dublin.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - ULSTER PASSPORTS.
SEAN MILROY
Mr. KEVIN O'HIGGINS
The question of the vise of such Passports is primarily one for the American Consular Service. Under the existing allocation of duties the Belfast Consular District comprises the Province of Ulster, and until a change in such district is formally made by the American State Department, emigrants from Ulster must have their Passports vised at Belfast. Suitable representations will be made to the American Authorities pointing out the inconvenience to which the Deputy has drawn attention in his question.