asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, to indicate this country's sympathy with those young Americans who are actively involved, against their wishes, in the war in Vietnam and who wish to bring it to an end, the Government is willing to accept them as refugees eligible for employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Refugee Employment.
14.
Any alien who qualifies as a refugee under the relevant international instruments to which Ireland is a party is entitled to receive in Ireland the treatment in regard to employment, as well as to other matters, provided for in those instruments.
Did I understand from the Minister's answer—we would welcome it if it is true—that he does accept these young men as being, in fact, refugees?
I do not think I said that.
That is what I am seeking to clear up.
I was asked if I was willing to accept people as refugees eligible for employment and I made the statement on the definition. A particular person will have his own case examined, his own application. There would be no global statement by me.
The Minister is not prepared to answer the question as a general question?
No, I do not think I should.
In the case of a young Irishman who goes to America and subsequently takes out American citizenship and becomes deeply involved in the Vietnam war and then no longer wishes to support his Government's policy in that regard or participate in military service in Vietnam as an American soldier——
This is a totally different question.
It is quite germane. It arises directly out of the question.
It does not arise directly from the question. It is a separate question.
May I ask the Minister if he would be prepared to accept such a case as eligible for employment?
I have answered the question about employment. There are rules and conventions to which we are party and these hypothetical questions are just for the purpose of getting me to make a statement which I do not think I should make.
Would the Minister say in that context that such a person would be treated in the normal course of events as an applicant for an alien's employment permit?
A citizen of another State?
An Irish person who became an American citizen and comes back to Ireland.
A citizen of another State will be covered by those conventions.
He is also an Irish citizen.
Any Irish citizen would remain an Irish citizen.
Many of our soldiers were accepted as refugees in the United States after the Civil War.
I do not exclude the possibility of a person applying here for refugee treatment but it would have to be by individual applications and by consideration of individual applications.
Is the Minister aware that such an applicant would be a deserter from the American Army?
I am aware of everything you are at today. I am quite well aware of what the whole question is about and I have answered it as I think is appropriate for a Member of an Irish Government.
Did not the Nuremberg Trials establish that a soldier who is engaged in an unjust war has the right to desert and refuse to take orders from his high command?
That is another question but I am asked would they get the treatment of refugees and my answer is that these things are governed——
Anybody who has read the Pentagon reports knows that this is an unjust war and that the Americans should get out.
And the Irish Government supported them up to the hilt.
(Interruptions.)
This is an army of occupation. Why is it all right in Vietnam and not all right in the North of Ireland?