asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been called to the large number of unemployed persons who have been disqualified from receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefit under Section 8 (4) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1923, on the ground that twelve contributions have not been paid during the current insurance year, and whether he is aware of the hardship suffered by many people as a result of this provision, and if he intends to amend the law in this respect?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFIT.
A certain number of persons are no doubt, disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit under Section 8 (4) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, but the benefit year, which only began on 17th October last, has been too short a period in operation for any statistics to be available as to the number of such persons.
It is not intended to revert to a system of benefit not supported by contributions, which would appear to be the only amendment of the present law relating to unemployment insurance that would afford the relief contemplated by the Deputy.