asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is prepared to issue permits to permit the resumption of employment in Britain in the case of persons who had returned to Ireland on holidays immediately prior to the issue of the Government prohibition against the grant of permits to persons resident in areas with less than 5,000 inhabitants, and who are thereby prevented from resuming the employment which they previously held in Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Travel Permits to Britain.
Workers, irrespective of their place of residence here, who travel to this country for holidays are free to return to their current employment in Great Britain within the validity of the re-entry visas which they receive in Great Britain before they travel home. I understand that their travel permits are renewed, if necessary, within this period.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the Order made under the Emergency Powers Bill preventing men from emigrating from County Mayo unless they were migratory agricultural labourers had caused great hardship; if he will state for what reason clerks, barmen, carpenters, bricklayers and plasterers are prevented from emigrating and if he now proposes to amend this Order.
I am not aware that the restrictions in force for the control of emigration have caused great hardship in County Mayo. As the Deputy is aware the whole question of emigration is under constant review in order to meet the requirements of changing circumstances. In June last the Government, as a result of extensive emigration during the past four and a half years, decided that it was necessary to take special steps to ensure that the supply of labour in this country for essential services would not become endangered. To this end an embargo was placed on the emigration of men from rural areas and towns with a population of 5,000 or under, to the exclusion of migratory workers and members of the professions, and I do not propose to seek exemption from that regulation in respect of any other class of worker.
The Minister has not answered the latter part of my question, in which I asked if he will state for what reason clerks, and so on, are prevented from emigrating. Surely, these people are entitled to consideration.
I do not think I can add anything to the reply I have given the Deputy.
Then, Sir, I should like, with your permission, to inform the Minister that considerable hardship has existed and still exists in my constituency as a result of the regulations made by the Minister's Department, and that in some cases it has led to suicide.