104 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the serious allegations contained in the Irish Medical News dated 28 September 1992, that a substantial number of our foreign hospital doctors are either working or living here illegally as they do not hold the required visas or work permits as a result of confusion and departmental regulations and delays in the issue of these authorisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

If there is confusion about the matters raised by the Deputy in the question, it appears to arise principally in the mind of the author of the article in question.

In the various Aliens Orders made under the Aliens Act, 1935, it is stipulated that a non-EC National may not enter the service of an employer in the State save in accordance with a permit issued to the employer by the Minister for Labour.