asked the Minister for External Affairs if he has had any discussions with the British Government on the proposed curtailment of immigrants from this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
46.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Immigrants to Britain.
45.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if any communication has been received from the British Government on the proposed restriction on immigrants to Britain; if any decision has been reached concerning the effect of these restrictions on Irish people going to work there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
47.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent negotiations with the British Government on the subject of the entry of Irish citizens into the United Kingdom; and if he will state whether under the recent British Bill restricting entry of Commonwealth citizens to the United Kingdom any similar restrictions will be applied to Irish citizens.
48.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if any representations have been made to the British Government regarding their proposals to restrict entry into Great Britain; if he will state the anticipated effect on the Irish economy; and if he will make a general statement on the matter.
49.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for Irish citizens of the proposed British legislation in regard to immigrants.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 together.
I have been in consultation with the British Government as to the extent to which the proposed legislation will apply in practice to immigration from this country.
Apart from the exceptional situation which arose out of the last war, there has always been complete freedom of movement of persons between the two countries. As this means that there is no immigration restriction on persons, whatever their nationality, traveling from one country to the other, the system requires uniformity in the control of immigration to each country from third countries.
The present freedom of movement between the two countries is to their mutual advantage and I hope that the consultations taking place will lead to its being maintained. Its maintenance would, of course, require the introduction of legislation here in order to preserve uniformity of control.
I hope to be in a position to make a further statement in the near future.
Can the Minister say whether the British Home Secretary stated, within the past 24 hours, that an exception would be made in the case of Irish citizens?
I have no information about that.