asked the Minister for External Affairs if his attention was called to the announcement of the British Minister of Labour to the effect that, in certain circumstances, he reserves the right to direct citizens of this country resident in Great Britain to work considered essential to the national interests of Great Britain; whether he is aware that the Minister concerned purports to take this action in pursuance of an agreement made with the High Commissioner in London; whether, in fact, an agreement of this nature was made with the approval of the Government; and if so, whether a copy of the agreement will be laid on the Table of the House.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Irish Citizens in Britain.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is aware that the British Minister of Labour reserves the right, in certain circumstances, to direct to employment Irish citizens resident in Britain; if so, if he will state when this arrangement was arrived at; and if he is satisfied that it safeguards the welfare of Irish people working in Great Britain.
With the Ceann Comhairle's permission, I propose to take Questions 3 and 4 together.
I am aware of the statement of the British Minister of Labour that he reserves the right, in certain circumstances, to direct the employment of Irish citizens in Britain in the same way as he directs the employment of British citizens or persons of other nationalities registered in that country.
We were not consulted about the making of the recent Order and there was no agreement or discussion with the British authorities in regard to it. My information is, however, that the arrangement made at the beginning of the war as regards the liability of Irish citizens in Britain to conscription will apply to the new Order in the same way as it applied to the previous Control of Engagement Orders, so that any Irish citizen in Britain who is not prepared to accept direction under the new Order is free to return to this country if he so wishes.