asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that migratory labourers in South Mayo, who have been accustomed to go to work in Great Britain, and members of the families of such workers, are not being allowed to sign on at their local employment exchanges for work in Britain, and if he will state the reasons for this.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Migratory Workers.
Migratory workers and members of their families seeking to become migratory workers are not required to register at local offices of my Department when they desire to proceed to seasonal agricultural employment to Great Britain, and applications for travel permits from such persons are accepted by the Gárdaí without prior reference to my Department. I am, therefore, unable to understand how the position described by the Deputy arises. If particulars of individual cases are furnished to me they will be investigated.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that in view of the recent announcement in regard to restrictions on travel facilities between this country and Great Britain it has been decided to suspend, for the time being, the facilities previously available to workers who desired to register for employment outside the country.
I know three young agricultural workers who sent up their passports for renewal. They have been at the passport office for the past six weeks. When I wrote to the Department about them, I simply got an official acknowledgment.
The Department with which the Deputy communicated was the Department of External Affairs.