asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state on what grounds unemployment benefit was refused to Thomas Dwyer, Lisronagh, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, in view of the fact that he had stamps to his credit, and had been in continuous employment for forty years.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLONMEL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT CLAIM.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
On a claim made on the 7th July, Thomas Dwyer, of Lisronagh, Clonmel, was allowed benefit for 60 days. After he had drawn benefit for 45 days, further benefit was suspended and the claim disallowed, on the ground that the applicant was not unemployed and not unable to obtain suitable employment. The workman was notified of the disallowance of his claim and he has lodged an appeal against the decision of the Insurance Officer. This will be heard by the Court of Referees on Tuesday next.
Will the Minister say that if a man had been in continuous employment for forty years, and then falls out of employment and goes to live with his brother who has a small farm, that automatically he ceases to be employed? That is what it amounts to in this case.
That, of course, is the Deputy's account of what it amounts to in this case. It should be remembered that the Unemployment Insurance Fund is not set aside as a sort of pension fund for individuals who have worked for forty, or for one hundred and forty, years, if you can imagine such a period. They must come under certain statutory conditions before they can draw the benefit. Even if a man had been employed for forty year, and at a particular period was found to be unemployed or was not available for unemployment, the claim would disappear.
I only mentioned forty years to show that the man was a worker and is satisfied to take work if he can get it.
It is admitted that the man has been in benefit, has been a worker, and that work has been applied for, and the only thing is whether he complied with the statutory conditions. I cannot accept the Deputy's statement as a complete statement of the facts.
I have given to the Minister the facts as I got them myself.