asked the Minister for External Affairs if any approaches have been made by him to the US Government concerning new regulations on immigrants to the US.

As I indicated in reply to Parliamentary Questions by Deputy O'Donnell on 28th February and Deputy Flanagan on 26th October, 1967, it would not be appropriate for me to make representations on the matter in question.

Why would it not be appropriate? Who has the responsibility if it is not appropriate for the Minister for External Affairs?

It is an internal affair of the United States and, while we would like to see anybody who wants to leave Ireland go where he or she wants to go and would prefer to see them going to America than to other countries, it is an internal affair. There are a great number of American citizens of Irish extraction working hard to see that the legislation will be changed.

In view of the close ties that have always existed between Ireland and the United States, and in view of the fact that the quotas allocated to European countries such as Italy are much higher than the quota allocated to Ireland, would the Minister not think that it is the business of the Minister for External Affairs to make representations so that people who have to emigrate from this country could join their kith and kin in America?

The proper people are making these representations and they are American citizens.

Is the Minister for External Affairs not the proper person?

The Deputy has asked that question three times.

The Minister says the proper people are making representations. Who are the proper people he is alluding to?

If the Minister thinks that it is not appropriate for him to make these representations, would it be in order for him to make his views known or to let them be known to the proper authorities in the United States?

They know. The American authorities are perfectly well aware of the attitude of the Irish people at home and abroad to this issue.

Will the Minister state——

Question No. 8.

Will the Minister state if he has made the views of the Irish Government known to the American authorities?

That is another question.

Did the Minister make his own views known?