asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is prepared to alter the regulations governing exit permits to enable all workers who have no experience of agricultural or turf work to proceed for employment to Great Britain no matter where they reside.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exit Permits to Great Britain.
It is not proposed at present to make any change in the restrictions which, in the interests of the country, have been imposed on emigration. The position has recently been under review and the measures now in force are those deemed necessary after careful consideration of the position.
Is it not unjust that, while a tradesman or a clerical worker in the City of Dublin, who is unemployed, due to the emergency, can proceed from there to Great Britain, if the same man lives three miles outside the City of Dublin he cannot do so under the regulations? That is so, although he is a tradesman or clerical worker and has no knowledge of agricultural work. Will the Minister reconsider the position with regard to skilled men living a few miles outside the city so as not to have them walking about unemployed?
The position was fully examined in relation not merely to the needs of the country but to practicable methods of administration and I can hold out no prospect that there will be any early change in the regulations.
For the information of a large number of persons concerned, will the Minister say whether it is intended to relax the present prohibition in respect of persons who came home here on holidays from Great Britain, believing that, in the normal way, they would be permitted to go back, but who now find that, because they are resident in an area with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, they are prohibited from going back under regulations made by the Minister since their return here?
The Deputy had better give notice of that question.