asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that liner companies at Cobh are now being prevented by order of the customs authorities from allowing relatives and friends of passengers from boarding the Cork Harbour Commissioners' tenders at Cobh when the tenders are servicing liners, and that the practice of issuing passes by the liner companies to people who were recommended by responsible people was always permitted; and, if so, whether he will ensure that this privilege will again be restored.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tender Facilities at Cobh.
Customs clearance at Cobh, though expedited as much as possible, is hampered by the limited accommodation available for the work. This difficulty has been added to by the practice of allowing relatives and friends of passengers to go out to the liners and to return on the tender with the disembarking passengers. An added complication has been the fact that certain detections of smuggling by these relatives and friends have been made in recent months. As a result of communications between the customs officials at Cobh and the shipping companies it has been agreed, as a matter of mutual interest and to avoid clearance delays, that this traffic should be kept within bounds by the issue of passes limited to people who have definite business to transact, or who have special reasons for visiting the ship.
Will the Minister tell us if that is due to the increased number of emigrants?
That does not arise.