asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is aware that Irish citizens who travel to Great Britain, while in possession of a Travel Identity Document only, will not be granted employment by the British Ministry of Labour and National Service unless they procure and produce to that Ministry a Travel Identity Card; if he is also aware that each application for a Travel Identity Card must be submitted, through the office of the High Commissioner for Ireland in Britain, to his Department for a decision; further, that a considerable period elapses before the decision is conveyed to the applicant, with consequent hardships; and whether, in order to obviate delays and hardships in such cases, he will authorise the High Commissioner to issue Travel Identity Cards without reference to the Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Travel Identity Cards.
There are now two classes of cards, the Travel Permit Card and the Travel Identity Card. The latter was introduced on the 18th June last for the use of persons desiring to proceed to Great Britain for purposes other than taking up employment or permanent residence.
Travel Identity Cards are issued by the Gardaí. The intention in introducing these cards was that applicants, mainly intending holiday-makers, should be facilitated by the shortcircuiting of the procedure for the issue of Travel Permit Cards, applications for which are referred to my Department for decision.
Persons proposing to proceed to Great Britain for employment purposes are still required to obtain Travel Permit Cards in accordance with the normal procedure which includes reference to my Department. I am not prepared to dispense from this requirement persons who have travelled to Great Britain on Travel Identity Cards and subsequently endeavour to obtain permission to remain there.
Would it not be more convenient for Irish residents in Great Britain, who desire to secure Travel Permit Cards, if the Taoiseach would delegate powers to the High Commissioner in London to deal with them? I suggest that would be a more efficient way instead of wasting time sending them to Dublin and then back again to the High Commissioner.
I do not think so.