Vol. 380 No. 1
asked the Minister for Justice if, in collecting information on the status of EC nationals, the Garda or his Department are in a position to request lists of names and addresses of non-Irish nationals signing on; if this is possible, the authority under which it is requested; and if it has been done in County Galway.
53.
asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the fact that EC citizens resident in this country and legally in receipt of unemployment assistance are being instructed by the Garda not to collect this money; the authority under which the Garda issue this instruction; if, since the Department of Social Welfare consider these people eligible for unemployment assistance, his Department could consult with them to establish a common approach; and if, given our membership of the EC and the large number of our young people forced to be dependent on the goodwill of other States, it would be advisable for us to treat foreign residents in a more just manner.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.
I am informed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána that no instructions have been issued to members along the lines suggested by the Deputy and that no case has come to notice of an alien being instructed by the Garda not to collect unemployment assistance.
I am aware that a number of EC citizens in receipt of State assistance do not have permission under aliens legislation to reside in the State and may for that reason be in breach of the Aliens Act, 1935. It is the duty of the Garda Síochána to enforce that law.
Normally permission to continue to reside in the State will be refused to persons who cannot maintain themselves. The question, however, of their receiving State assistance while they are here is a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare. I see no reason to make any approach to him about changing the situation. Neither have I any proposals to change the regulations affecting EC nationals. This would, in any event, be a matter for the EC in the first instance.
I consider it entirely appropriate that the Garda should, where the law so requires, make any necessary inquiries or investigations about the activities of aliens who are residing in the State and who may be in breach of the law. In the course of such investigations it would not be unusual for inquiries to be made with other Departments particularly with the Department of Social Welfare who may have information which is crucial. Information received as a result of such inquiries is treated confidentially. I am aware that such inquiries have been made in relation to aliens in many areas of the country which includes the County Galway area. The question of any prosecutions resulting from such investigations is a matter for the Garda and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
