asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware of the fact that a large number of Irish building trade workers who have taken up temporary employment in Great Britain are denied an opportunity of returning to Ireland for the purpose of visiting their families, and whether he will make representations to the British Government with a view to having facilities granted to such workers to pay periodic visits to their families in Éire.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Workers in Great Britain.
I am informed that British exit permits are granted only to the following categories of persons:—(1) Persons travelling on business of especial importance; (2) Irish citizens whose homes are in Ireland and who are returning thereto for permanent residence; (3) Cases of special urgency, such as dangerous illness of relatives in Ireland.
The British authorities will not grant exit permits to persons desiring to travel from Great Britain to Ireland on holidays or to visit their families, and, from the representations already made I am satisfied that further efforts to have the restrictions relaxed would not be successful.