asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the unemployment cards of men engaged at drainage works in the Saorstát are not being stamped, and whether he will take immediate steps to see that the law is carried out in this matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UNSTAMPED UNEMPLOYMENT CARDS.
If the question relates to men employed by the Office of Public Works or the Department of Lands and Agriculture on the improving of agricultural land, by drainage works, such work has previously been decided to constitute work in agriculture and it is consequently not insurable employment under the Unemployment Insurance Act.
How does the Minister connect this with the ordinary work of an agricultural labourer?
The Deputy is quite wrong; I have not connected it. It has been connected by a decision, not my decision.
Would not the Minister agree that this is a matter for his Department as to what cards should be stamped or not?
My Department cannot decide what is to be done in particular matters. There is a law and there are certain methods of procedure laid down under that law. Decisions have been obtained in accordance with that. If those decisions are now to be questioned, there is a method of doing that.
Will the Minister say if men are employed at similar work by private employers, the same ruling will hold?
I cannot give any general ruling. I am not a judge. These things will be decided in the ordinary way when cases come forward.
Is that an admission that nobody in the Minister's Department is allowed to interpret the Unemployment Insurance Act?
By no means. There is an interpretation and there is also a Court of Appeal. There are certain channels through which an appeal can be made. Those channels have been utilised and certain decisions have been got. I have to stand by those decisions until they are appealed against and reversed.
Will the Minister say if he agrees with that decision or interpretation?
That would be a mere waste of breath. It does not matter whether I do or not.
Is it the policy of the Minister's Department to take every step to prevent the payment of unemployment moneys and to disallow applications whenever any reasonable or unreasonable grounds can be found by the insurance officers? Will the Minister say if it is the policy of his Department to minimise to the fullest extent the payments due under the law?
It is not the policy.
Did the Board of Works make any representations to the Department of Industry and Commerce in this connection? Did they ask for it?
They did.