asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he will make representations to the British Government to ensure that the imposition of a ban on Irish citizens from returning to Ireland will not operate to make such citizens liable to military service in Great Britain under legislation at present in operation in Great Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Citizens in Great Britain.
I am informed that the new travel restrictions do not in any way affect the position of our workers in Great Britain as regards liability to military service.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he has made, or proposes to make, representations to the British Government to enable Irish citizens at present working in Great Britain to return to Ireland for holidays in accordance with the terms of the contract into which they entered when taking up such employment.
I know that it is a grave hardship on our citizens working in Great Britain not to be able to spend their holidays in this country and to revisit their families and homes. If there were any action which I could appropriately take to change that position I would naturally do so.
Having regard, however, to the terms of the official announcements made on behalf of the British Government, I feel that for us to ask the British authorities to grant a relaxation of the new restrictions in favour of our workers or of any other class of travellers would merely place this Government in a false position without achieving any useful result. I can only refer the Deputy, therefore, to the statements made in London indicating that the present restrictions are not likely to be of more than temporary duration.