asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what way the Irish Delegation (Government, Employer and Labour) voted at the ILO 49th Session in Geneva on the resolution condemning the Government of Portugal on the grounds of the forced labour policy practised by the said Government in territories under its administration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Vote on ILO Resolution.
118.
The Irish Government delegates abstained in the vote on the resolution referred to by the Deputy. The vote was taken by a show of hands and the conference records do not indicate the manner in which individual delegates voted. I am not, therefore, in a position to say what way the employers' and workers' delegates on the Irish delegation voted on the resolution.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that, in view of the Irish Government delegation abstaining, the official Government attitude to forced labour, while perhaps not exactly approving of it, at least condones it by abstention?
I do not believe it comes to that at all. The position was that as far as the Department of External Affairs were concerned, they were not satisfied that the title and the text of the resolution were appropriate to each other and in these circumstances they instructed the Irish delegation to abstain. The delegates from Britain, Australia, the United States voted against it. Canada, South American and other countries abstained for a similar reason. I do not accept the implication in the Deputy's supplementary. As far as I know, not all the workers' delegations at the conference were satisfied either.
I can assure the Parliamentary Secretary that the workers' delegations condemned the Portuguese Government. Is it not true to say that not only was the conference satisfied that the Portuguese Government were using forced labour methods in their own territories but that they were exporting natives to South Africa for the same practice?
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the reason for abstention given by him was in fact stated at the conference?
I am not aware. I do not know.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree it is important it should be stated?
I shall find out and inform the Deputy.