asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware that a number of Irish citizens who served in the British forces are anxious to obtain immigration facilities to Australia but are unable to do so; and, if so, whether he will make representations with a view to having the same immigration facilities granted to these persons as are enjoyed by British citizens who served in the British forces.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Ex-Servicemen and Immigration Facilities.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the negative.
As regards the second part, I understand that under the scheme of free passages for ex-members of the British forces emigrating to Australia, Irish citizens are treated in exactly the same manner as British citizens.
The scheme was brought into operation by the Australian Government in March, 1947. It provided that applications to take advantage of the immigration facilities which it offered would be considered from ex-members of the British Armed Forces if submitted within two years from the 31st March, 1947, or within two years of the date of the ex-servicemen's release from those forces whichever was the later, provided that in all cases the date of release was not later than the 31st December, 1948.
In effect, therefore, this scheme has ceased to apply to Irish and British citizens equally, where applications for facilities thereunder were not lodged with the Australian authorities by, at the latest, 31st December, 1950.