Vol. 256 No. 4
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what progress he has made with the Scottish Home Office concerning the conditions of employment of Irish potato workers in Scotland; if it is his intention to establish a consular office in Scotland to deal with matters such as this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
22.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by the Scottish authorities for the improvement of the employment and living conditions of Irish potato pickers in Scotland.
23.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his representative (name supplied) from the Irish Embassy in London has yet met officials of the Scottish Department of Agriculture regarding the employment and living conditions of Irish potato pickers in Scotland; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 22 and 23 together.
With the full co-operation of the Scottish authorities and as a follow-up to his visit of last June, the agricultural councellor of the London Embassy visited farms in the Lothians and Berwickshire from the 13th to the 15th October to inspect the conditions of the Irish seasonal workers.
He found that, in general, the position of these workers was continuing to improve, that there was an awareness of their conditions both among Scottish officials and the public and he received assurances that, where necessary, pressure would be kept on local authorities to adopt modern sanitary regulations.
As the man who thoroughly and completely investigated the position of these unfortunate workers, I want to know how many camps were visited by Mr. Foster, the emissary from the Irish Embassy in London. I want to know the condition of the camps and how many school-going children he found engaged in this work which is exploitation of Irish workers, unfortunately, by Irishmen. I also want to know what is the position of the exploiters as regards tax. I understand the tax laws say: "You pay where you live". These people live in Ireland and I want to know what action, if any, has been taken in regard to their contribution in respect of income earned outside the country.
That does not arise from the questions which relate to the conditions of employment of potato workers.
I also want to know whether an eight hour day for a five day week has been the practice for these people and if, having exceeded the eight hours for the five days they have been paid overtime rates. I also want to know——
This is a very long question: it is a series of questions.
It took me ten days to investigate this in Scotland and surely I am entitled to come in here to try to right an injustice. If it takes half an hour for some people to talk nonsense, surely I am entitled to five minutes to talk common sense. I also want to know the rate of wages being paid to these unfortunate people. I have investigated this matter and I shall continue to pursue it. I want to know what action the Minister has taken or is prepared to take particularly in East Lothian where I spent four days avoiding the people who were out for my blood. I want to know what the Minister has done through Mr. Foster of the Irish Embassy. I think that covers the case.
In answer to the Deputy, we have a report from Mr. Foster dated 20th October and I shall ensure that a copy is sent to the Deputy. The Deputy has, as always, been consistent in following up this matter. He wrote on 18th October to the Secretary of State for Scotland instancing five cases of overcrowded accommodation. Already two of these have been investigated. One was good, the other not too good. The matter is being pursued and I shall give the Deputy a copy of the report.
Would the Minister now take time to answer my question which asked if it was intended to establish a consular office in Scotland? He might pay me the courtesy of answering that question when I asked it.
I was tied up with Deputy Coughlan.
I am not interested in Deputy Coughlan. I have asked a question; would the Minister please reply to it?
That is being investigated but we do not feel it is really necessary. Due to the activities of the Embassy and due to questions raised in the House, particularly by Deputy Coughlan, the matter has been fully explored and can be explored through the ordinary channels. The establishment of a separate consular office is not really necessary in the situation.
Is the Minister up to date on what is happening? Is he aware that the Dalkeith presbytery of the Church of Scotland at a recent meeting expressed grave alarm and are calling for immediate action? Surely when people in a foreign land express concern for Irish workers it is not good enough for the Minister for Transport and Power, on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to say it is not necessary to open a consular office in Scotland. The number of Irish people working in Scotland demands a better answer from the Minister than that. Deputy Coughlan knows it is necessary I know it is necessary; I have been over there——
I never said that.
I beg the Deputy's pardon. I thought that once when he was in Scotland he asked that there should be a consular office there. If the Deputy disagrees that is all right, I misunderstood the position.
Deputy Coughlan has been very helpful at all stages.
I visited the Scottish office in St. Andrew's House in Edinburgh and I spent an hour discussing this subject.
Might I ask the Minister——
We know the Deputy is from Donegal and if he slipped up I did not.
There is a very obvious answer to that but out of charity I shall refrain from making it. May I ask the Minister to reconsider the position? There is a definite demand not alone from the potato workers in Scotland but also from the other Irish workers who go there in great numbers to have a consular office there. There is more need for a consular office in Scotland than there is need for such offices in many places in other parts of the world.
I will bring the Deputy's remarks to the attention of my colleague.
Could the Minister not have told me that in the beginning?
