asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that a large number of young men, who were not permitted to go to England or Scotland from scheduled areas in County Mayo, cannot get employment at home during the winter months; and if he is prepared either to relax the ban on emigration from this area or guarantee these men suitable work at reasonable wages during the winter period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ban on Emigration.
I am not aware that permission to go to England or Scotland was refused to a large number of young men from the scheduled areas in County Mayo, who cannot get employment at home during the winter months. On the contrary, it has now become necessary to reconsider the regulations at present in force in County Mayo in the light of the requirements of the turf production programme for 1944. Under existing regulations persons resident in these areas, who are 22 years of age or over, and, in very special circumstances, persons under the age of 22 years, are not debarred from emigrating to employment unless they are in employment or suitable employment is immediately available for them in this country. Persons who have left employment voluntarily without just cause or who have lost employment through misconduct are debarred from receiving emigration facilities for a period of six months. Members of the Special Register of Agricultural and Turf Workers are, of course, not permitted to emigrate.
May I point out to the Minister that he has completely ignored the last part of my question, that a number of persons have been refused permits? A very large number have been refused permits although there was no employment for them here. Does the Minister think it is fair to keep people at home on part-time work?
My reply is that that is not so. In so far as Mayo is concerned, the regulations in operation are different from those applying to the rest of the country. In Mayo a person who is qualified on the grounds of age and otherwise, and who is not in employment or cannot get employment, is entitled to get emigration facilities. That does not apply to many other counties.
Is there not a scheduled area out of which men are not allowed to go?
The whole of Mayo is now a scheduled area.
Then they are not allowed to emigrate.
Might I bring to the Minister's notice the fact that there are a number of men in that part of the country who desire to get out of the country to earn a livelihood? We happen to have a dictator in that county known as the county surveyor who controls——
Deputies must realise that Question Time is a time for asking questions, not for bringing matters to the notice of the Minister in the form of statements. Supplementary questions arising out of the reply to the original question may be asked. If a Deputy asks a question referring, say, to fishermen in Rush, Deputies from Kerry or Mayo are not entitled to raise the difficulties of fishermen in their respective areas. They must put down separate questions. It will be known to older members of the House that half an hour was the time devoted to questions. At the request of Deputies, that time was extended to an hour. It is now 3.35 p.m. and only 17 questions have been dealt with. It is my intention not to allow any questions after 4 o'clock. Supplementary questions must have some bearing on the original question. Questions are put to the Minister for the purpose of eliciting information, and not of imparting information.
I am sorry.
Newly-elected Deputies were not cognisant of the rules. Hence this statement from the Chair.