Vol. 380 No. 7
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the possibility of establishing a task force on emigration composed of Dáil Members and members of voluntary bodies, who would examine the situation, assess the needs and draw up an appropriate response which would be implemented by whatever Government was in power.
25.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will bring together, under one Department, all matters relating to emigration rather than have them as at present, under four Departments, that is Foreign Affairs, Health, Labour and Education.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 25 together.
I am very much aware of the need for a co-ordinated and structured approach to the problem of emigration which has re-emerged since the early eighties as one of our greatest social and economic problems. The House will already be aware of the action that we have undertaken in the United States to achieve legislative reform and to bring together the various organisations working there in order to provide a network of advice services for our citizens. In the UK funding for emigrant welfare services is provided through the DÍON Committee.
Following my return from the United States I reviewed our administrative response to the problem here at home and decided to establish an interdepartmental committee comprising the Departments most immediately involved in emigration matters—Foreign Affairs, Finance, Labour, Health, Education and Social Welfare. The purpose of the committee is to ensure that the issue is tackled in a comprehensive fashion and that the activities of all relevant Departments are co-ordinated. Departments are already maintaining close liaison with voluntary bodies and the committee will also wish to draw on their expertise on emigration matters.
In so far as the Deputy's suggestion for a Dáil task force is concerned I appreciate the spirit of his proposal and shall take it under consideration.
Emigration increased from a rate of 1,000 per annum in 1981 to 35,000 in 1986 and over the next 25 years over 500,000 people are expected to emigrate according to a DKM report——
A question please Deputy.
Because this problem concerns all of us, would the Taoiseach agree that we should all be involved in facing up to this problem, and whatever decisions are made now could be passed on to the next and following Governments? Because it amounts to a great national disaster, we should face this problem together as a parliament rather than approaching it in a fragmented way as is the case at present, with four Government Departments dealing with the problem.
As I mentioned in my initial reply, we hope to deal with that matter. In dealing with this matter over recent months it became obvious to me that there was a need for a co-ordination of the official position here and that all Departments who have a role to play should come together and act in a co-ordinated way through an interdepartmental committee. In so far as the major needs are concerned, they will have to be met through official channels who of course would work in close co-operation with the voluntary agencies. As I have said, I do not wish to appear to oppose the Deputy's suggestion about parliamentary involvement and I will be prepared to consider what form that might take. I agree with the Deputy when he says that the more people who are interested in this problem the better, but I would also have to say that a fair amount of progress is being made. The situation in the United States has greatly improved where many of our friends are being very helpful and, of course, the Deputy is aware of what is being done in the United Kingdom. If he would like to suggest some specific action on the part of this House I will certainly consider it.
I would like to ask the Taoiseach two questions arising out of his initial reply and his extensive reply to the supplementary question from Deputy Deenihan. Is the Taoiseach confident that any action the Government might take in respect of the problems being faced by Irish citizens who have emigrated would not be considered within this State as being a policy of positive promotion of emigration? If the Taoiseach accepts that that would not be the case, in contrast with the view taken by Fianna Fáil when in Opposition, would he recognise that if we were to adopt a positive approach to the reality of migration that the committee to which he refers should have considerable regard to the legal possibilities for full migration within the completed Community in 1992 when Irish citizens will not be working illegally in bars and on unprotected building sites? Do the committee propose to address themselves to that problem where there are institutional rights as distinct from fair weather friends in the United States Congress?
While there may not be unanimous agreement that we must not do anything to encourage emigration, I think most sensible people would agree that we should not appear to be encouraging emigration by our young people and that we should all recognise emigration as an economic and social evil. On the other hand I do not think that we should let that principle prevent us from doing what we can to help those who have emigrated or who are going to emigrate in any event. This is a complex matter and it is one which would have to be approached from a number of different angles. For instance, in the United States we have to approach it from the point of view of legislation and the granting of visas. We also have to approach it through the work of our consular services. We also have to approach it through the efforts of the different Irish organisations. Again, in some cases, we can call on the services and help of the cities — Boston in particular — and I might add that the Catholic charitable organisations of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York are very helpful. Therefore, as far as people who have emigrated are concerned, what we can and should do for them is fairly clear. Of course, the Deputy is opening up a whole new area in bringing in the European Community. He is quite right in saying — well, now, to a great extent but certainly by 1992 — that our people will have the right to establishment throughout the European Community and be able to move freely to job opportunities anywhere in the European Community.
Could the Taoiseach use the Anglo-Irish interparliamentary tier to familiarise United Kingdom politicians with the plight of Irish emigrants in England? I will also avail of this opportunity to remind the Taoiseach that the Bill recently passed by the American Senate has not yet been passed by the House of Congress and that it is expected that it will meet much resistance there. Will the Taoiseach agree that that Bill will do nothing for the huge number of Irish illegally in America, some 100,000 or so? Furthermore, will he agree that while the Kennedy-Donnelly initiative will have implications in the future it will do very little to help the Irish at present illegally in America?
I am anxious for brevity because the time has come to deal with other questions.
I cannot accept that contention. We should all concentrate on endeavouring to get this legislation through Congress.
Is the Taoiseach adopting my suggestion?
May I ask the Taoiseach——
We shall come to the Deputy's own question among those nominated for priority.
Will the Taoiseach agree that even if the problems of visas in America and housing in Britain are solved, we would need to maintain contact with our people abroad anyway and, for that reason, the appointment of a Minister whose responsibility it would be to undertake that task would be a good thing?
We must now proceed to questions nominated for priority, the first being No. 36.
