HC Deb 04 July 1905 vol 148 cc979-80
MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General, in regard to the Aliens Bill, whether he can now say on what clause he intends to move the promised Amendment to provide for the exemption of Irish-born American citizens from the alien immigrant provision; and whether he will submit the wording of the Amendment to members of the Irish Party.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir ROBERT FINLAY,) Inverness Burghs

This matter has been under my consideration. I think the Amendment might be introduced into Clause 2 or Clause 8. I shall be happy to confer with any member of the hon. Gentleman's Party, but I wish it to be understood I do not contemplate a general exemption. I think it would be possible, without varying the general principle of the Bill, to prepare an Amendment which would meet the case of persons desirous of visiting their relatives in the United Kingdom.

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

That is not the only case aimed at. There is also the case of those—a very numerous class—who wish to end their days among their own people.

SIR ROBERT FINLAY

I had not that case in contemplation, but am prepared to confer.

MR. FLYNN

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman, in view of the fact that the Bill is to be closured by compartments, let us have the Amendment at the earliest possible moment?

SIR ROBERT FINLAY

Certainly.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Is it proposed to confine the Amendment to Irish-born Americans, or to extend it to British-born people generally?

SIR ROBERT FINLAY

I do not propose to limit the Amendment to the case of Irish-born subjects revisiting their country.