asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the position of Irish citizens temporarily employed in Britain in regard to their liability for compulsory military service there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compulsory Military Service in Britain.
Irish citizens temporarily employed in Great Britain are not liable to compulsory military service, but, if they become ordinarily resident in that country for a period of two years or upwards, they are liable to be called up under the provisions of the British National Service Act, 1948, if they come within the statutory age limits and are not classified within any of the prescribed categories of exemption.
Even if they are ordinarily resident in Great Britain for more than two years, Irish citizens do not incur liability under the British Act referred to if they are resident in Great Britain for a course of education or some other temporary purpose.
Any Irish citizen who is called up under the Act, and raises objection on the ground of his Irish nationality, is free to avoid the liability by returning to this country.
Will the Minister say if there is any difference between the liability of Irish citizens and, say, the liability of citizens of the United States similarly circumstanced in regard to compulsory military service in Britain?
That is a different question and I should not like to answer it without fuller notice of it.