asked the Minister for Labour if he will indicate types of employment in which Irish citizens are engaged in EEC countries.
8.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Employment.
7.
asked the Minister for Labour the number of persons, on a county basis, who have gone to live and work permanently in EEC countries over the past five years.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
Under the EEC regulations governing the free movement of workers Irish workers may freely enter any EEC country for work and employers from EEC countries are free to recruit workers here. As workers are under no obligation to notify any Government agency of their intention to work in another member state information of the detailed nature requested by the Deputy is not available.
Information is, however, available about persons who were offered work in EEC countries after our entry to the Community through the National Manpower Service. In 1973, work in these countries was offered to 47 persons and in 1974 to 31 persons. The majority of those who secured such jobs through the manpower service were engaged for clerical work, factory work and work in the hotel and catering industry. Records are not kept of the counties from which these workers came.
Is there any means by which these people could notify their intention to emigrate?
The best means we have is if they go through the National Manpower Service. In that case we at least have an official recording. Under the treaty strict notification is not necessary.
Do the figures the Minister gave include workers going to the UK?
They would.
Would the Minister state if qualifications in respect of professional people have been cleared so that there may be free movement?
That is a very large question. As the Deputy is aware, at a recent meeting of Ministers for Health attended by the Minister for Health the obstacles in the way of free movement of doctors to Community countries were removed. In the case of other professions solutions have not yet been arrived at.
The Minister said the figures included persons going to the United Kingdom. Could he give us the figures of persons going to EEC countries?
In 1973 work was offered to 47 persons and in 1974 work was offered to 31 persons.
Is the Minister suggesting that only that number went?
Obviously that is a mistake on my part. I will get the correct figure.
Surely the Minister is not correct in stating that free movement relates to all EEC countries. That is not the position. The Safeguard of Employment Act in Northern Ireland still operates.
That is an exception.
Therefore that statement by the Minister also needs to be amended.
I thought from recent comments that the Minister would be well versed in affairs in Northern Ireland.
In terms of the European Community, Northern Ireland bulks very small indeed.
Could the Minister say if facilities regarding the movement of workers applies to teachers?
That I do not know. It does not apply to architects.
Would it not appear now that the Minister is not sufficiently well informed in relation to the subject matter of the question before him? We can be critical of his lack of information in replying to supplementary questions.
I have given the only information available to me which is that supplied by the manpower service and I have indicated that there is no other check.
Can the Minister tell us if there was any discussion with the trade union organisation prior to the implementation of this and will there be free availability of trade union cards here to nationals from other countries coming in here?
That is an extension of the question.
This is a very complex area indeed and there is no free movement or free transfer of union cards between skilled craftsmen.
The Minister has not yet given me the correct information.
It is correct if the Deputy excludes the UK.
I am calling Question No. 9.