I beg to ask the President a question of which I have given him private notice: Whether he is now in a position to make a statement respecting the intentions of the Government in respect of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and when he proposes to introduce a Bill on the subject?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
The Government has agreed on the principle of a Bill on this question of Insurance. The Bill is now in the hands of the draftsman, and immediately on its completion by him it is hoped to take the first reading, and we hope that will be within the coming fortnight.
May I press this point. A fortnight's delay before the first reading of the Bill means that the position of the unemployed insurance might be very difficult. As the Bill is likely to be non-controversial, I take it that the Minister proposes to bring it forward as quickly as possible?
Directly the draftsman has completed it I will introduce it. There will not be any delay. I simply mentioned a fortnight as the maximum time that might be taken in compiling the Bill.