asked the Minister for External Affairs if he has made representations to the United Kingdom Permit Office on behalf of persons, resident in Éire, who wish to travel to England for a holiday; and if he will state the result of such representations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Visas.
I have made inquiries into a number of cases of this kind and have found no evidence for the suggestion that any applicants who desired to travel to Great Britain genuinely for holiday purposes have been refused visas by the British Permit Office.
I know definitely that two persons who had friends over there received an invitation to spend their holidays with them and could not avail of it because they could not get a permit.
There is a communication on the way to the Minister's Department relating to a young man whose application was refused. It will be there to-morrow.
Does the Minister not consider that, since there are no restrictions on English people coming here to spend their holidays, it is most unfair for the British authorities to impose restrictions on Irish citizens who desire to spend their holidays in England?
I have told the House that I caused inquiries to be made into a number of cases of this kind. The result of the inquiries satisfied me that no genuine application for a visa to go over there on holidays was refused.