asked the Minister for Labour if a permit has been granted to a company (name supplied) for the recruitment of foreign unskilled labour for work at Silvermines, County Tipperary; and, if so, why he deems this necessary in view of the number of Irish applicants for work there.

I have not issued employment permits to the firm concerned in respect of alien unskilled labourers. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.