asked the Taoiseach if he can state whether the British Government claims to apply conscription to any Irishmen resident in England or to Irishmen resident in the Six Counties; and, if so, does the Government propose to raise an effective protest not alone with England but with America and the Commonwealth nations, and if this is not effective whether he will use other legitimate means to protect our nationals in all Ireland and elsewhere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conscription of Irishmen.
As the Deputy is aware, the British Government has hitherto regarded Irish citizens as British subjects, and Irishmen in Great Britain have been liable to conscription as British subjects since 1939. The position at the moment is that, under the National Service Act, 1947, Irishmen between 18 and 26 years of age, who have been ordinarily resident in Britain for not less than two years for other than educational or similar temporary purposes, may be called up for service in the British armed forces. Any Irishman so called up who does not wish to serve in the British forces may, however, return to Ireland. There is no compulsory military service in the Six Counties.
The application to Irish citizens of British Acts imposing military obligations on British subjects has been the subject of protests by the Irish Government. A new situation will, however, be created when the British Nationality Act, 1948, enters into force on the 1st January next. Under this Act, Irish citizens will no longer be British subjects under the law of Great Britain. No doubt that change will, in due course, be reflected in British legislation dealing with service in the British armed forces, and I do not suppose that, in future, the British Government would seek to impose compulsory military obligations on Irish citizens resident in Great Britain other than those who, of their own volition, have chosen the status of British subject or United Kingdom citizen under the provision of the new Act.