asked the Taoiseach if he has yet devised a scheme to determine the exact number of emigrants who leave this country, each week, each month or each year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration Statistics.
The answer is no. The importance of providing accurate and comprehensive statistics of emigration for different periods is fully realised, but serious difficulties are encountered in endeavouring to do so. These difficulties were fully set out in my replies to questions addressed to me by Deputy Hession on the 1st May, 1952, and Deputy D. Costello on the 22nd October, 1952.
Further examination has confirmed the view, expressed in the reply to Deputy Hession, that full and accurate statistics of gross emigration to and immigration from Britain and the Six Counties for annual or shorter periods could be derived only by the institution of elaborate frontier controls. As I indicated in that reply, the matter can, however, be further considered in the light of any relevant recommendation that may be made by the Commission on Emigration and Other Population Problems.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree with the recent speech made by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in which he stated that emigration is part of our economy?
Sin ceist eile.
That is a different question altogether.