asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he will state for what reason Mr. Richard Ebbitt, V.S., who sailed from New York on 18th February last, was not allowed to land at Cobh; and whether he is aware that Mr. Ebbitt was born in County Louth, and deported from County Meath about 1918 for political activities; that he was 72 years of age, and was coming home to die, being accompanied by his sister; that he was compelled to proceed from Cobh to Bremen, Germany, whence he returned to New York, and died within a week of arrival.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PERMISSION TO LAND.
When Mr. Ebbitt applied for a visa the Passport Control Officer at New York found his name on the list of persons to whom visas should not be granted. The Passport Control Officer offered to submit the case to the Government, but this offer was declined. Had all the circumstances been known to the officer at New York it would have been possible to arrange for the granting of a visa. Mr. Ebbitt, however, sailed without a visa and was consequently unable to land. On receiving a report of the incident, inquiries were made by my Department, and it was decided that Mr. Ebbitt should be granted a visa to enter the Irish Free State
Will the Minister tell us what was the nature of the political offence for which he was deported from this country?
That does not arise on this. Whatever it was, it was definitely declared to be one that should not hold, and if this gentleman had taken the proper steps the visa would have been granted.