asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that British firms and institutions habitually advertise in the Irish newspapers, the existence of vacancies for skilled craftsmen, factory workers, general labourers, nurses and domestic workers; whether foreign firms publishing advertisements of this kind are contravening any regulation or Order made by the Government; whether persons accepting the employment offered in these advertisements are facilitated in leaving this country for the purpose of taking up such employment; and whether it is contemplated that steps will be taken to provide employment for all persons seeking employment of this character.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Advertising of Foreign Employment Vacancies.
I have seen such advertisements, but their publication does not contravene any regulation or Order made by the Government.
Beyond the issue to them of travel permits in common with other persons from this country travelling to Great Britain, persons accepting employment offered in these advertisements are not facilitated in leaving this country for the purpose of taking up the employment. Travel permits are not, in fact, issued to them, nor will they be granted visas to enter Great Britain to take up employment unless it is established through the machinery set up at local offices of my Department that they are free from the Government's restrictions on emigration which, in the main, prohibit the granting of travel permits to persons in employment or for whom suitable employment is available here or will be available within a reasonable period. This machinery, however, does not apply to migratory workers, members of the professions or to women and girls.
As to the concluding part of the the question, the provision of maximum productive employment is inherent in the Government's general economic policy. Government policy seeks to create conditions favourable to the absorption into employment of craftsmen and other workers, but the Deputy will appreciate that industrial and general economic expansion is being retarded by prevailing world shortages, particularly in regard to the supply of plant, machinery and essential materials.