asked the Minister for Justice the number of aliens at present in the country.
74.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aliens Residence Permits.
73.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of aliens who have applied for permission to reside permanently in Ireland in each of the past three years.
75.
asked the Minister for Justice the criteria which must be met by aliens wanting to reside permanently in Ireland.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 74 and 75 together.
The records of aliens in the country do not include citizens of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth who are given various exemptions under the Aliens Orders.
In relation to other aliens, the records relate to those registered with the Garda Síochána as resident here for three months or more. The latest figure compiled is that for 31st December last, on which date the figure was 4,075. The corresponding figures for the preceding three years were:
|
1966 |
3,647 |
|
1965 |
3,478 |
|
1964 |
3,384 |
giving an increase of approximately 700 in the 3-year period.
It may be taken, however, that well over half the total of 4,000-odd who are registered as residing here are students or workers on short-term assignments here, or others who are not permanent residents in the usual sense of that term.
Permission for an alien to reside in Ireland is granted at the discretion of the Minister for Justice. Under the Council of Europe Convention on Establishment the general rule applicable to nationals of Member States of the Council of Europe amounts to saying that they are to be admitted for permanent residence if they are of good character and able to maintain themselves, but they are not authorised to take employment unless the employer obtains a permit from the Minister for Labour.
Applications from other countries are dealt with on the merits of the particular case, account being taken of whether the applicant has some special skill of value to the community and, of course, of the practical difficulties that would arise if the particular applicant turned out to be an undesirable character.
Is the Minister aware of applications having been made by employers in this country to have workers from abroad brought in?
That may be so but I am not so aware.