asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state what steps he has taken (1) to secure the safety of Irish nationals in Spain; (2) to secure the safe conduct of Irish nationals to leave Spain, and if he will state if assistance in this matter (a) has been sought by him from, or (b) has been given by any other country and, if so, if he will state what is the nature of such assistance, and if he will state whether any financial liability is involved and, if so, how much.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Safety of Irish Nationals in Spain.
All Irish citizens who were in Spain at the beginning of the civil war and with whom contact could be established were warned to leave that country as it would be impossible to afford them protection if the fighting became general. Through the good offices of the British Naval and Consular Services, a number of our citizens were evacuated from Spain, and I am glad to have this opportunity of expressing publicly our appreciation and thanks for the work done on our behalf by those British services. Any expenses incurred have been refunded by the Government of Saorstát Eireann. It is not possible at the moment to state the amount of the financial liability, as certain sums of money have still to be refunded by some of those repatriated.
May I ask the President if any complaints have been made to his Department as to the treatment of Irish students of the College of Salamanca in their departure from Spain?
I have not heard of any.
Is it a fact that even Mr. George Gilmore did not disdain the assistance of the British Navy for the purpose of escaping from Spain?