asked the Minister for External Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a doctor who was dismissed from a position in the City and County Hospital, Derry, because he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Queen of England, whether he is aware that the doctor holds an Irish passport and, if so, what action he proposes to take to safeguard Irish citizens from the indignity of swearing allegiance to a foreign monarch.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissal of Doctor.
From a letter received to-day from the doctor referred to by the Deputy I understand that the matter has not yet been finally determined and that he is still in correspondence with the hospital authorities.
Is the Minister aware that this procedure is likely to become a new weapon to be used against people who hold Irish passports and who have, or who are likely to seek, employment in the Six Counties and, if he is so aware, will he have steps taken to ensure that this will not happen, to have something in the line of a treaty or some guarantee that these people will not have to suffer the indignities of having to swear allegiance to someone outside the country?
As I have told the Deputy in my reply, the matter has not yet been finally determined. I think we had better leave it as it is at the moment.