asked the Taoiseach if he is aware that a number of boys and girls of 16 years of age and under are leaving this country regularly to seek employment in Britain; and if, having regard to the dangers to which such young people are exposed, he will take the necessary steps to deal with the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emigration of Boys and Girls.
1.
As regards the first part of the Deputy's question, I understand that some boys and girls of 16 years of age and under emigrate, but there is no official information regarding the numbers involved or whether these young persons leave as individuals or as members of families.
As regards the second part of the question, I am not clear what the Deputy has in mind when he refers to "the necessary steps to deal with the matter". If he has in mind some legislative prohibition on emigration by young persons, such a prohibition would be costly and difficult, if not, indeed, impossible to administer. It would, moreover, be open to criticism as infringing the rights of parents and guardians, on whom the responsibility for the welfare of these young persons primarily rests.
Does the Taoiseach not agree that it is highly undesirable that young people, boys and girls of 14 and 15 years of age, should leave the country on their own and be subject to various types of dangers in Great Britain? This is, in fact, taking place with the use, I understand, of birth certificates belonging to older members of the family. If necessary, would the Taoiseach not see that some check be kept on people, at least under 17 years of age, leaving the country? It is a very serious problem. I have had representations to that effect.
Would the Taoiseach not consider that the most desirable way of dealing with this problem, which does exist, would be to extend the school leaving age to 16 and, at the same time, to embark on a far more liberal school building programme? That would surmount all those difficulties.
Would the Taoiseach not think that if he implements the promise made when assuming office to give full employment it might help the situation?
I doubt if I gave any promise of full employment.
Oh, yes.
"Wives, put your husbands to work."
Order!
It is very easy to make these statements.
"Wives, put your husbands to work."
Yes—to do one's best to do it.
You did not say that.
Order!
There is no use in entering into an argument about that.
No—because you cannot argue it.
I can argue it.
Order!
The Chair. Can Deputy Sweetman not have manners for once?
With regard to Deputy Russell's supplementary question, I admit that it is a serious matter. I do not know the extent of the problem. However, that any young people, boys and girls, should go unattended or alone at a tender age to a foreign country is a serious matter. As I have said, the primary responsibility rests on the parents. In the first place, they must do their duty. As far as prohibition is concerned, the Deputy, by reference to the falsification of birth certificates, shows clearly just one of the difficulties that would be involved if any attempt were made to deal with this matter by legislation. An attempt has been made to deal with the problem by the clergy and by a number of voluntary bodies in Britain. The question of raising the school leaving age has been examined many times. The difficulties in relation to it are such that they have not yet been overcome.