asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs why Irish priests who had been in South Korea are not being given re-entry visas.
15.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South Korean Visas.
14.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that two Irish priests (details supplied), who had been in the missions in South Korea, are waiting for re-entry visas for over six months.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I would propose to answer Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
I am aware of certain difficulties being experienced by applicants for visas for South Korea, and indeed for other countries also, but it is entirely a matter for the South Korean authorities to decide on who should or should not be given visas for entry into their country and my Department does not have a function in this matter.
In view of the fact that there are roughly 80 Irish citizens, priests and nuns, on the missions there and that some of them have been refused re-entry, does the Minister not think we should take more interest in our citizens who are doing good work in South Korea?
The question of citizens in South Korea and how they are treated is a matter which does concern the Department and in respect of which we have had some reason for concern. But the question of the giving of visas is one for each Government to decide for itself, and I have no function in the matter. If citizens have a particular difficulty, in individual cases if we are approached we will make informal inquiries to see if there is any hold-up we can encourage to have straightened out, but any such representations have to be informal. I do not think we have had any recent requests for assistance of this informal kind.
The information I got was from one of the missionaries. The names and addresses of two missionaries were included with the question I put to the Minister. Perhaps the Minister would ask the Department to communicate with them. They are two Irish priests, one from Mayo and the other from Dublin. They are not from County Clare.
I have some hesitation because they have not communicated with me. The normal thing is for people to approach us for assistance. We do not normally intrude it on them. However, I will look into the matter as the Deputy has raised it.
Would the Minister indicate if there was any practical reason why the concern he expressed a few minutes ago about the treatment of Irish citizens in Korea had to be made known recently to the Korean officialdom.
There have been some problems and we have had some contact with the South Koreans about these cases. At this moment, there is not any current problem.
Nor in recent months?
No, the case I had in mind occurred about 21 months ago.