Now we will take, on the motion for the Adjournment, the matter of which Senator Baxter gave notice to-day. The subject-matter of the notice has already been communicated to the House.
Adjournment—Admission of Aliens.
I will not take up very much time in dealing with this matter, but I think it is fitting and of considerable importance at this stage to have a Ministerial statement on the whole position.
In the other House, on 3rd July, a question was asked with regard to the possibility of alien females coming here as domestic servants and there was an indication from the Minister for Industry and Commerce, in reply to that question, that the restrictions that have operated up to the present would be relaxed under certain circumstances. I want to carry this matter further. It is within the knowledge of all of us that there are to-day hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, some in Britain and many on the Continent of Europe. I have especially in mind members of the Polish forces in Britain and Poles in camps in Europe.
It seems to me that these people, in their tragic position, afford us an opportunity to procure a type of skill for the building up of industrial activity that we do not now possess. We have here an opportunity that may not offer again. After the last war a somewhat similar situation existed, though it was nothing as bad as to-day; but quite definitely there were opportunities then to bring here from the Continent many technicians who would be prepared to give their services almost for what they could find to eat. If we had had the imagination to rise to that occasion and avail of their services it would have put us on the highway now, probably in many industrial undertakings that we have not even thought of establishing. It seems to me there are available to us at this moment many technicians who would be in a position to show us how to do many things for ourselves that we have not yet thought of.
We have to admit that in a variety of respects we are rather backward. That is due to historical reasons. It is true that there are a number of things we cannot do without external assistance and training; that is, through having made available to us the skill of foreigners, which is not easily obtainable. I believe there are thousands of people—we do not, of course, want thousands, because that would create another problem for us— including a great many technicians, whose services could usefully be employed in this country, because they have skill of a type not possessed by any of our nationals.
I think myself that we should be wide awake to such a situation as that and that we ought to avail of the opportunities opened up before us. I believe that, in so far as it is possible, so far as it is wise and justifiable, we should open our doors to the Christian peoples of Europe, to the people of the smaller nations, many of whom have been banished from homes to which they can never return. I think that there are people here who should like to have this situation clarified. I am quite certain that there are in our midst enterprising individuals, who have certain views about the manner in which the services of people, whom we now certify as aliens, could be utilised. I hope that the Minister will give us a clear indication of what Government policy is in this regard. I recognise the difficulties which the open door would create for the Government. I am not suggesting any such step as that but I do feel that a declaration of policy, which would indicate that the Government are favourable to the employment of people here who have a certain type of skill which we could utilise, would stir the imagination of our people and probably get us going on lines of production that we have not heretofore attempted.
I know many of the difficulties that the country, the Government and certain individuals would be faced with, in trying to implement a policy like this but I suggest that we should try to see how we can make it operate even in regard to the question which was answered the other day in the other House. I do not know how that can be effectively operated although I believe it is really an urgent question. I believe that it would be a valuable acquisition to the country if a number of people who are prepared to give domestic service in this country could be selected and brought into it. I see certain difficulties, of course, in regard to selection and I see difficulties in discovering exactly how people are to go about this. I think that if we could have some form of bureau established here that would be at the disposal of those who are in need of such services it would be a help. There is the other problem of selection. There again responsible people, very responsible people with competence for the task, would have to be available to make the selections so that we would have no regrets afterwards. Anyhow I feel that it is a question about which probably a considerable number of our citizens are concerned to a greater or lesser degree. I think it would clarify the situation for all concerned if we knew exactly what the Ministerial policy in regard to it was.
I saw this motion only a few moments ago. May I say that it is one that has my fullest sympathy and support? I think we have got only half an hour to discuss the matter so I shall be very brief. It is not on humanitarian grounds alone that I welcome Senator Baxter's invitation to the Minister. I think it calls for very little imagination to picture the plight of the poor people in the displaced camps and it would be a very valuable contribution to the cause of humanity if some measures of the type suggested were adopted. I welcome the proposal also on national grounds. I have seen, and I know, what we all owe in a limited way to foreign technicians in this country and I feel that it might conceivably add to the volume of our production and to the efficiency of our industry, if we received, within limits, a certain number of selected technicians. We cannot claim to have in our short industrial life the technical experience that some European industrialised countries possess. I feel that there is very valuable technical material in these displaced camps that could make a valuable contribution to our industrial effort.
I merely want to add a few words in support of Senator Baxter and Senator Sir John Keane both from the humanitarian and the national point of view. I think very few people realise the depths of tragedy that lie behind these two words "displaced persons". I can assure the House that if we do require any form of expert technicians the camps of Europe at the moment are full of trained and skilled people of every kind and description, skilled in every conceivable trade that one can think of. I think it would be very useful to the House and particularly to the industrialists of this country to have a statement from the Minister as to what Government policy will be in this matter. Naturally, I quite agree with Senator Baxter that it is a matter that should be proceeded with with caution and that it would be necessary before people are admitted that they should be very carefully screened by the Department of Justice.
The motion appears to have been very well and carefully worded by Senator Baxter. It proposes to admit technicians who have a knowledge that is not possessed by people in this country. It appears to be very well worded in that way. As Senator Sir John Keane has said, we had examples in this country, from the time of the Huguenots down, of important trades, established by foreigners, trades which were previously unknown in this country. It would be a very good thing if these people could be brought here to start industries which would provide employment for our own people at home. The question of emigration of Irish boys and girls has become a very serious question indeed and if anything could be done to stem that emigration or to prevent it entirely, I think it would be a very welcome development. Until recently I was not so much opposed to it but recent information I have got about those who have gone abroad is very disheartening indeed, and any industry that could be established to stop emigration would be a step in the right direction. As the last speaker said, it will be necessary, of course, to investigate the character of those who would be admitted. That is very important. So far as the Minister for Industry and Commerce is concerned, I know he is always anxious to start a new factory and to take full advantage of the services of any skilled technician who can be procured.
Mr. Hawkins
There are just one or two words which I should like to say in connection with this motion.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The debate must conclude within half an hour and the Minister must be allowed a sufficient opportunity to reply.
Mr. Hawkins
I shall take only three minutes. We welcome the motion in so far as we have from members of the House an expression of their opinions and views as to the policy that should be pursued in relation to allowing in people from other countries—technicians who possess a knowledge that is very necessary for the establishment of industries here. We all, I think, appreciate, some to a greater, some to a lesser degree, the position of these people in Europe to-day. From my experience I think that at no time has any barrier been put in the way of persons of that type coming into the country if it could be proved that their knowledge or their equipment would be helpful in the building up of Irish industries, but more than the good will of the Government will be essential in order to bring about what Senator Baxter has in mind. The good will of the trade union organisations, the good will of political Parties and the good will of the people in general will be needed if they are to be allowed in to help us to build up our industries, and we must not hear it stated on platforms up and down the country that industries are being established under the protection of the Government to give employment to foreigners. We must drop that if we are to adopt the policy advocated by Senator Baxter.
I welcome the putting of this question because of the care with which it has been drafted and, particularly, because we should welcome a statement regarding the policy of the Government as to the admission of aliens who have skill and technical training which are badly required in the country. Where any alien is willing to come in here, if he has skill and technical training which would be available in strengthening the industrial arm of the country, that person is welcome if otherwise acceptable to the Department of Justice.
I take it that I am just asked to state what the policy of the Government is on this matter. Aliens who, in the opinion of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, possess technical qualifications or special knowledge of value to the country, are permitted to enter the country provided they have an offer of employment or have means to maintain themselves for a reasonable period or have friends who undertake to be responsible for their maintenance. In issuing a permit for the alien's employment, of course, the Minister must have regard to the question whether or not an Irish national is available to fill the job. There is always, in addition, the overriding requirement that the Minister for Justice must be satisfied that the alien is desirable from the point of view of character. I understand that, owing to the number of inquiries reaching him at present on the question of alien employment, the Minister for Industry and Commerce has in contemplation the issue of a printed leaflet setting out the conditions under which aliens may be admitted here for the purpose of taking up employment.
This leaflet will be communicated to the Press and will be given widespread publicity. That is the position. I think that it always was the position. As regards persons like domestic servants, so long as there was a sufficiency of our own nationals available they were not allowed to enter. I do not think that anybody would favour the admission of technicians for whom there was no employment. If anybody wants the services of a technician, every effort will be made to help him. The Minister is preparing this printed circular because of the great number of requests which he has had.
Should aliens be permitted to come to this country to take up employment without any precaution to secure that they will not be exploited by some of the gentlemen who are anxious to bring them in?
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
That is a different matter.
I am merely putting a question to the Minister.
I am sure that that matter will be attended to. I do not think that anybody should be allowed to exploit such persons. Does the Senator mean that these people must stay in the same employment?
No.
That aspect of the matter will be attended to. We shall not have slaves in the country.
The Seanad adjourned at 8.45 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 16th July, 1947.