asked the Minister for Justice if he will state when and in what circumstances Mr. Sachell entered Ireland; for what period his permit to reside here provided; whether he complied with the regulations applying to aliens; what passport he carried and for what purposes he alleged that he wished temporarily to reside in Ireland; his nationality and place of birth; and whether he is now in Ireland and if so, what his occupation is.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Admission of Alien.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the date on which a deportation notice was served on Mr. Sachell; on what grounds this notice was extended; if representations were made to his Department, on this man's behalf; and if so, by whom.
I propose to take questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
Hubert Kurt Sachell, who is an Austrian national and was born in Vienna, entered this country from Great Britain on the 2nd July, 1946. He stated that he was European agent of a New York firm and that he intended to transfer his offices from London to Dublin. He was granted permission to remain here up to the 30th of June. 1947. He did not hold a passport on his arrival, but was in possession of a British Alien's Registration Certificate. He complied with the Aliens Order during his stay here. In June last he was informed that his permit to reside here would not be renewed. His solicitor then represented that Sachell would require time for the winding up of his affairs as legal proceedings might be involved, and he was informed that there would be no objection to his remaining here until the end of the year on the understanding that he would not engage in any business in the meantime. Recently it was discovered that he was still engaging in business, and he was warned that if he did not leave without delay he would be deported. He left the country on 24th of October.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, may I inquire whether at any time he was informed as to the nature of Mr. Sachell's affairs and whether it is true that Mr. Sachell acquired a large farm in the West of Ireland? Will the Minister say whether it is permissible for aliens without passports to acquire the fee simple of land in this country?
Mr. Boland
I wish the Deputy had asked that in his question. I understand that he did buy a farm, but, as the law stands, there is no obstacle to an alien buying property here.
Does that correspond with the representations made to the Minister by this man that he was the European representative of an American firm?
Mr. Boland
That was a separate business.
Is the Minister satisfied that the representation was true? Was he, in fact, a bona fide representative of any American firm, and is the Minister satisfied that he ever transacted any business here on behalf of an American firm? Is the Minister aware that he claims to have served the Administration here by disposing of tweed in America for which dollars were obtained——
That does not arise.
Was the representation made by Sachell of his business interests in this country correct, and did he subsequently boast about serving the Government?
How do we know?
If the Deputy requires an answer to that question he must put down the question.
I asked for what purpose he alleged that he wished temporarily to reside in Ireland. The Minister said that he alleged that he was the European representative of an American firm. I am asking the Minister is he now satisfied that that representation was bona fide made, and how it is to be reconciled with the acquisition of a large farm in Galway on which, as far as I know, this man was resident?
Mr. Boland
I understand this man did for a while represent this firm, but he never transacted any business on its behalf here. The question of the buying of the farm would not arise at all because, as the law stands, there is no obstacle to an alien doing that. As regards the clothing, I do not know Deputy Flanagan mentioned something about clothing, but I did not know what he was talking about. I never heard anything about it, and neither was anything heard about it in my Department. Apparently, Deputy Flanagan thinks that I know something about it, but I know nothing about it. I inquired into it—it was the usual irresponsible stuff that we get from Deputy Flanagan—but I could not get anything whatever. Deputy Dillon also said something about it. I do not know what it is; I never heard of it; I know nothing about it. A man may be drinking in a public house and say something. I never heard a word about it except what I heard here.
Question No. 26.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
Question No. 26.
With all due respect, I think I am entitled to put a supplementary question.
The Deputy is entitled to ask as many supplementary questions as the Chair allows, and no more.
I was not permitted to ask any supplementary on this question.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the reasons why the identity of Alexander Maximoe, as discovered by the Gardaí, made it necessary for him to issue an immediate deportation order.
Mr. Boland
As I stated in reply to a question on Wednesday last, Maximoe entered this country posing as Henry Horace Smith, a British subject, and holding a British passport which he had obtained by false pretences. When his real identity was discovered and it was ascertained that there was a warrant for his arrest in Great Britain, I considered that it was in the public interest to deport him without delay.