asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state with regard to the Irish Free State Minister to Spain (a) if he enjoys the usual diplomatic immunities while at St. Jean de Luz; (b) if he has an official residence or a known address at St. Jean de Luz; (c) if notice of his address and whereabouts in St. Jean de Luz has been circulated to and in Madrid and Valencia; (d) if any channel of communication between Irish nationals in Spain and the said Minister at St. Jean de Luz has been or is proposed to be opened; (e) if he is provided with funds to assist in the repatriation of Irish nationals desiring to leave Madrid or Valencia; (f) if he has employed or is empowered to employ agents resident in Spanish territory to assist Irish nationals in Spain who require assistance, and, if so, who are the said agents; (g) if it is intended that the said Minister should from time to time personally cross the frontier and journey from St. Jean de Luz into Spanish territory, and (h) if he has any staff of officials at St. Jean de Luz, and, if so, the number and official ranking of such staff.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministerial Representation in Spain.
The Saorstát Minister to Spain (a) enjoys, by the courtesy of the French Government, the usual diplomatic privileges while at St. Jean de Luz; (b) has an official address at the Golf Hotel, St. Jean de Luz, where a number of other diplomatic representatives reside; (c) has not circulated his address to Madrid or Valencia; (d) has no special channel of communication with Irish nationals in Spain, but should such a course be considered necessary, arrangements will be made to that end; (e) has the necessary funds at his disposal to assist in the repatriation of Irish nationals from Spain; (f) has not employed agents in Spain for the purpose of assisting Irish nationals. He is in a position to get in touch with the authorities in Salamanca and Valencia in the interest of Irish nationals; (g) will make such journeys across the Spanish frontier as the discharge of his duties may from time to time require; (h) has the assistance of a stenographer-clerk at St. Jean de Luz. No further staff is considered necessary at the moment.
If our Minister to the Valencia Government has no channel of communication with Irish nationals in Spain, how can he render any assistance in the repatriation of these nationals as it is suggested he will do?
It is not quite clear what is meant by "channel of communication." He has the same channel of communication that any other Minister there has.
Has he any assistant or correspondent in any part of Spain occupied by the Communist Government?
He is able to get in touch with the Spanish officials in the same way that other Ministers are.
Has he any assistant or agent in that part of Spain controlled by the Communist Government?
He has no assistant or agent. Neither have a number of other nations.
Is the fact that the Minister accredited to the Communist Government of Spain——
To Spain.
Is the fact that has not sent on his address at St. Jean de Luz to the Madrid Government intended to be the first step in breaking off diplomatic relations with the Madrid Government?
I do not think I was asked that question at all.
Can the President say what the implication is of the Minister to Madrid not sending on his address to the Madrid Government?
I was not asked that question, and I did not reply to that question.
The fact is he has not done it.
I was not asked that question and my reply did not relate to such a question.
The President distinguishes between representation to a Spanish Government and representation to Spain.
I do.
As the only known form of representation is personal representation, I should like to know if the Minister's credentials have been changed, and, if so, how they have been changed?
That is a separate question and should have been addressed to the Minister for External Affairs in the ordinary way.