Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 May 1943

Vol. 89 No. 19

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Refusal of Passport.

Mr. Byrne

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that Mr. William Rigby, 26 Doris Street, Dublin, has been refused a passport to travel to Canada to take up an appointment as shipyard foreman at a salary of £1,000 a year; that Mr. Rigby, an employee of the Liffey Dockyard Company, was claimed by that company to be a specialised worker, but was subsequently released by them to enable him to take up the more remunerative post in Canada; that Mr. Rigby has been informed by the Liffey Dockyard Company that, due to the absence of new building, he would in future be employed in the repair depôt with a reduction of salary of 25 per cent.; that subsequent to the reduction in his salary Mr. Rigby again sought permission to travel to Canada and was again refused; and whether, in view of the hardship imposed on Mr. Rigby, particularly by the recent worsening of his position here, the Minister will reconsider the decision and allow Mr. Rigby to proceed to Canada.

I am aware that Mr. Rigby has been refused by my Department the necessary facilities to enable him to emigrate to employment in Canada. It has been decided by the Government that facilities enabling Irish citizens to proceed to employment outside the State should not be granted to persons who are in employment in this country or for whom employment here is immediately available. Mr. Rigby is in the employment of the Liffey Dockyard and notwithstanding the recent deduction of 25 per cent. which is stated to have been made in his earnings, it is understood that he is receiving a standard rate for his work. The Deputy will appreciate that applications for permission to emigrate from persons in employment in this country based on the ground that the applicants might earn more money elsewhere could not be accepted without making all control of emigration ineffective.

Mr. Byrne

Is the Minister aware that this is depriving this man of his rights under the Constitution? He has moderate wages and is threatened with a 25 per cent. decrease in them. He has been put on temporary work, and he has the offer of this job at £1,000 a year. The Canadian authorities here have made all arrangements to send him away and pay his fare. They have given him this guarantee. Is it right that any citizen should be deprived of this opportunity, especially when he has unemployment hanging over his head?

An exception to the general rule cannot be made in individual cases.

Mr. Byrne

Will the Minister admit that a very grave injustice is being done to this man, and that he is being deprived of his rights under the Constitution?

Mr. Byrne

Will the Minister read the Constitution?

Taking into consideration the extent to which we are dependent for our supplies on the United States and on British shipping, will the Minister consider whether assistance of this particular kind in ship-building in Canada might not be of use to us?

That is an entirely different question.

Mr. Byrne

With the permission of the Chair, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the adjournment of the House to-night so that I can give good reasons to show why the man should be allowed to go away.

Top
Share